Geoff joins the College after almost 30 years of service in the British Army, where he achieved the rank of Colonel. He has been involved in education and training throughout his career and his teaching has ranged from basic skills to post graduate level. Geoff most recently served as Principal of the joint service military college, the Defence Centre of Training Support, and as Deputy Director of Army Education.

 

Welcoming RNC’s new Principal, Chair of Governors David Adams said, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Geoff Draper to the College and to Herefordshire. He is a recognised educational professional with extensive experience in developing education and training programmes with a sharp focus on student outcomes. The skills and experience he brings from leading roles within the military education system will be invaluable to the continuing success of RNC. In addition, his organisational skills will be a great asset as the College prepares to act as host venue for the World Blind Football Championships next year and as a Paralympic Training Camp in 2012.”

 

Geoff, who takes over from Interim CEO/Principal Ian Pickford on 7 December, said “I am a passionate educationalist and thrive on helping individuals to achieve their potential.  As such, I am very much looking forward to working with all of RNC’s dedicated and talented staff and to building upon the excellent work and reputation that the College enjoys.  RNC is not only a Beacon College, endorsing the exemplary quality of teaching and learning but the residential provision and support on offer is of the highest order and rightly described as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.”

 

Mr Draper joins the College at an exciting time. Since opening several new state-of-the-art buildings as part of a multi-million pound campus development during 2009, RNC is now further strengthening its position as the UK’s leading Further Education College and training establishment for people with sight loss. In August 2010 the Hereford College will be the host venue for the World Blind Football Championships and will continue to develop its new sports centre, thePoint4, as a centre of excellence for disability sports whilst making the extensive facilities available to the wider sporting and business communities.

 

Geoff was educated at Liverpool and Manchester Universities and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on joining the Army.  He continues to enjoy a number of active sports and other interests include music and the theatre.  He will be relocating to the Hereford area with his wife Rebecca and, he said, “we are very much looking forward to working and living in such a beautiful part of the country.”