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Building on Success: Waltham Forest College to Appoint New Principal Following Janet Gardner OBE’s Retirement Announcement
Janet Gardner OBE, Principal and CEO of Waltham Forest College, has today (12 February) announced that she will retire from her post in August 2026.
Janet said: “I have important family caring responsibilities that I need to prioritise and I have decided that – with the College in such a strong position – this is the right time to retire”.
“Waltham Forest College is a truly special place, and I am extremely proud of everything we have achieved and that I will be leaving it in such a strong position, with a highly experienced board of governors, great leadership team and amazing staff.”
“I have hugely enjoyed my time leading the College and I want to pay tribute to Team Forest for their professionalism and commitment to our college, to employers and community partners for their ongoing support, and to our students for all their hard work and dedication.”
Janet served in senior leadership positions in colleges across London before joining Waltham Forest College as Principal and CEO in 2020 when the college was in financial intervention.
The College is now graded as Outstanding by Ofsted, who also judged the College to be ‘significantly meeting skills needs’; it is rated as Outstanding for Financial Health by the Department for Education.
The College is rated as one of the Sunday Times ‘2025 Best Places to Work’. According to analysis by London Economics, it makes a considerable positive economic impact, providing a financial return on investment of hundreds of millions of pounds to the regional economy through its highly efficient teaching and operations.
Chair of Governors at Waltham Forest College Paul Butler, said:
“Janet is an exceptional leader. Her knowledge, passion for community, energy, experience and skills have made a hugely positive impact on the College and the people it serves.”
“She will leave the College in a very strong position, with an outstanding Ofsted grade and financial health rating, great student experience, a superb team of staff and robust partnerships with employers and our public sector partners.
“Janet’s drive for excellence will continue to be her key legacy for the Board and senior team as we continue to serve our local communities. That is a phenomenal legacy.”
“The recruitment process for the new Principal & CEO will now start. Interviews will take place at the end of March, and details will be released on the college website.”
Janet has represented the sector in a variety of voluntary roles, including being a member of the Mayor of London's Partnership Board, a member of London’s Missions Board, Member of the CBI London Council, Chair of the Association of Colleges London Regional Board and a member of its national Board, as well as co-chairing the London Anchor Institutions Inclusive Employment Group for the GLA.
She was awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours List of 2025.
Waltham Forest College launches WFC Racing for the 2026 Student Motorsport season.
Waltham Forest College recently welcomed employers from across the region to its Employer Breakfast Event, bringing together local and national businesses and College leaders to strengthen collaboration on skills development, apprenticeships, and future workforce needs.
The event opened with structured networking over breakfast, enabling employers to engage with senior leaders and managers and strengthen strategic partnerships. Janet Gardner OBE, Principal and CEO of Waltham Forest College, formally opened the event, reaffirming the College’s commitment to employer-led collaboration, skills development and its contribution to local, regional and national economic growth.
Janet Gardner OBE said:
“Our Employer Breakfast Event is about listening to employers and working together to continue to shape skills provision that meets current workforce needs. Strong collaboration with industry is essential to creating opportunities for learners and supporting local and regional economic growth.”
Employers then participated in a curriculum round-table discussion to identify current and emerging skills priorities and to inform the ongoing development of a curriculum aligned to local, regional, and national labour market needs. Discussions focused on addressing skills gaps, supporting productivity, and ensuring workforce sustainability.
A series of workshops highlighted how apprenticeships can drive business growth by developing a skilled and productive workforce, supporting succession planning, and improving staff retention. These discussions aligned with the government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper, reinforcing the role of high-quality, employer-led apprenticeships in addressing skills shortages and contributing to sustainable economic growth across Britain.
Russell Gewitzke, Local Director at NatWest, said:
“The Employer Breakfast Event was an excellent event and provided a valuable opportunity to connect with a wide range of business partners working in collaboration with the College. The curriculum team was highly impressive, the facilities are outstanding, and we look forward to further collaboration with the College.”
Nicola Hollands, Head of Partnerships, Skills and Training of CEME, said:
“Events such as the Employer Breakfast are vital in bringing education and industry together to address skills needs and support long-term economic growth. Strong partnerships with colleges like Waltham Forest College enable us to co-design training and skills solutions that respond directly to employer demand, support workforce development and create meaningful opportunities for learners and businesses alike.”
The event also showcased the College’s recently launched Business Growth Hub, delivered in partnership with Grow London Local. The Hub is designed to support local micro-businesses and SMEs to start up, scale and innovate, driving economic growth and supporting local communities. The Business Growth Hub provides office and conference facilities alongside specialist business support, with expert advice delivered by Grow London Local, part of London & Partners. Support ranges from helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable businesses, through to enabling early-stage enterprises and established SMEs to grow and thrive.
Artemisa, Independent Travel Agent and Consultant, said:
“I specialise in supporting women to build their own businesses, and I attended this event to network and engage with other organisations. The discussions were extremely valuable, particularly in relation to the College’s new Business Growth Hub, which offers clear opportunities for collaboration and enterprise support. I was able to exchange contacts with several attendees and look forward to the possibility of working with Waltham Forest College to support business growth in the local community.”
Robin, Founder of Catalyst in Communities (CIC), said:
“Young people in London can face a complex range of challenges, including social exclusion and limited access to creative and enterprise opportunities. As a Waltham Forest–based organisation founded 15 years ago, Catalyst in Communities is committed to supporting young people to build confidence, develop employability and enterprise skills, and access positive pathways into education, training and work. I was particularly impressed by Waltham Forest College’s strong mission and its commitment to working with employers and community partners to improve outcomes for young people locally, and would highly recommend the College and events like this.”
The event concluded with further networking, allowing employers and College staff to continue discussions and explore opportunities for ongoing collaboration and partnership.
For more information or to get involved in working with Waltham Forest College, contact
Waltham Forest College is proud to announce the latest intake of its government-funded Entry to Social Care Level 2 Skills Bootcamp, delivered in partnership with the Department for Education, Skills for Life and the Mayor of London. The programme provides high-quality, accessible training for adults looking to enter the Social Care Sector, as well as employers seeking to upskill their workforce.
Waltham Forest College welcomes the Keep Britain Working Review as a positive step towards addressing the rise in health-related economic inactivity across the UK. We are proud to be named as a ‘vanguard employer’, one of the first organisations to help towards the goal of reducing health-related economic inactivity and to promote a healthier, more inclusive workplace.
On Thursday 11 September, Waltham Forest College welcomed the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden MP, to showcase the valuable role that Further Education (FE) Colleges play in meeting skills needs, helping to drive local and regional economies.
Waltham Forest College is celebrating the fantastic achievements of its students today celebrating the results of their vocational and technical qualifications including BTECs. This provides opportunities to progress to higher education or skilled employment, securing bright, ambitious futures.
Students at Waltham Forest College are stepping confidently into their futures, supported by an ambitious programme of industry/work placements and employer engagement that is actively shaping the workforce of tomorrow.
Waltham Forest College is extremely proud to announce that our Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Janet Gardner, has been awarded an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in His Majesty The King's 2025 Birthday Honours List.
