Join our Board

About us

City College Norwich is the largest further education college in East Anglia with around 10,000 students studying across three campuses; City College Norwich (central Norwich), Paston College (North Walsham) and Easton College (six miles west of Norwich).

Our college has been serving the communities of Norwich and Norfolk for over 130 years, and on our Paston College site, we are continuing an educational legacy that goes back to 1604.

In the academic year 2023/24, we taught and supported in their learning over 6,200 16-18-year-olds, 1,156 apprentices, 954 adult learners and 617 Higher Education students via a partnership with the University of East Anglia (UEA). 

Our student community is increasingly diverse, with students from a wide range of cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Together, our learners contribute to a vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic educational community.

View our courses

The scale of our contribution to the educational landscape in the county is significant: In 2023/24, 33% of all 16-19 year-old students who lived in Norfolk studied at one of our campuses with this number including over 50% of the young people of Norwich. 

Our College is rated as “good” by Ofsted, with outstanding support for students with significant learning difficulties and disabilities. Central to our work is our focus on supporting students from lower socio-economic groups that make up a significant proportion of our students, alongside our work on supporting UASC students who face unique challenges in accessing and thriving in education. Strong links with employers is crucial to ensuring that our courses are relevant and lead to positive progression for our students. We work closely with businesses in every sector of the local economy to make sure that we are delivering the skills and training they need – now and in the future.  

Our values

Our College Strategy is underpinned by a set of values, our 'Ways of Working' which all staff, students and Governors are expected to demonstrate in their interactions with college colleagues and external stakeholders.

The Governing Body promotes a positive and ethical culture which promotes equality, inclusivity and diversity across the college, including in the governing body’s own operation and composition. Diversity is understood broadly, not only in terms of protected characteristics, but also in the richness of perspectives, lived experience and attitudes. It is a means of ensuring that under-representation and differences in outcomes are challenged and, where practicable, followed by a course of corrective action that ensures equitable opportunities and fair outcomes for all.   

Please read on and if you feel that you have something to offer, please get in touch, we encourage applications in joining our Board from all members of the community.  

About the role

We are looking for dedicated and passionate individuals to join our experienced and dynamic Board, contributing their professional, specialist and general management skills or lived experience to the Corporation (and its committees) in a non-executive role to ensure that the college delivers the highest standards for all our students and apprentices.

We are particularly interested in people who are confident in interpreting complex information, making informed decisions and shaping both short and long term strategies. You should be comfortable asking constructive questions, challenging ideas and inspiring others to do the same.  Above all, you should share our passion for education and training, and be committed to supporting young people and adults across Norfolk.

Although we consider individuals with experience of the delivery and quality assurance of further education, apprenticeships and/or higher education, we are especially keen to strengthen our Board with individuals who bring experience in finance, risk, audit, stakeholder relationship management, transformation and sustainable estate planning. We also welcome those with experience in some of the key employment sectors in Norfolk, such as agriculture and food production, IT, tourism, hospitality and catering and clean energy. Experience of working in a regulated environment would be an added benefit. Equally, we recognise the importance of lived experience. Your personal background, community involvement, or professional engagement with diverse and multicultural environments can offer invaluable perspectives to support an inclusive and equitable learning environment. 

Role Description for Governors

The role of Governors (collectively, as the Corporation) is to set the strategic direction and framework within which the college operates, monitor results, and support the college to provide a high quality and effective learning experience for everyone who attends the college.

Governors are not directly involved in the day-to-day management of the college, but have six principal responsibilities:

1. To determine the educational mission and character of the college;
2. To approve the quality strategy;
3. To be satisfied as to the effective and efficient use of resources;
4. To approve the annual budget;
5. To appoint the Principal and determine their pay and conditions;
6. To set the framework for pay and conditions of service for all other staff.

The term of office for Governors is four years, with the possibility of a further four-year term.

Governors will be provided with a full induction package, providing relevant information on the college, the Governors and Senior Management Team, the world of FE and HE, wider policy and strategic considerations in the sector, the role of Governors and what makes for Good Governance. The role of Governor is not remunerated.  

Governors will be supported throughout their time at the college with training, development and mentoring.  

What’s the commitment?

Governors are required to prepare for and attend:

• At least six Corporation meetings per year (generally on a Tuesday afternoon commencing at 4pm for approximately two and a half hours).
• The meetings of at least one committee (Business, Curriculum and Quality, and Audit and Risk)  who meet up to six times a year (generally on a Tuesday afternoon commencing at 4pm for approximately two and a half hours).

• At least two Strategy and Board development days per year (usually in February and July).

• An annual Board self-assessment review (usually in July).

• An annual 1:1 review with the Chair of the Corporation.

• Ad hoc college events such as concerts and shows, open evenings and achievement ceremonies.

• Internal and external training sessions.

Governors will also be asked to meet with external stakeholders as and when necessary.

Governors have access to an online Board Portal, which contains the agenda and papers for meetings, which are released to Governors in advance of each meeting to allow opportunity for Governors to fully prepare. 

The time commitment equates to around 2 days a month (during term time).

How to apply

Applications are welcomed from all backgrounds and experiences, and we hope that the information contained within this page encourages you to become a City College Norwich Governor.  

Should you have any questions about the role, please contact Jodie Mitchell, Director of Governance and Legal, at jodie.mitchell@ccn.ac.uk.     

If you would like to become a CCN Governor, please send a Letter of Application together with a short CV, to Jodie Mitchell by Monday 17 November 2025. 

Shortlisted Applicants will be contacted following receipt of their Application to arrange a suitable time to visit the college for an interview with the Principal or a member of the Senior Management Team, the Chair or Vice Chair, a Governor and the Director of Governance and Legal.  There will be an opportunity to have a tour of the college at this time. This is anticipated to take place between 24 November – 15 December 2025.

Appointment of Governors is made by the Board, and we hope to inform successful applicants in January 2026 to attend their first Board meeting by 10 February 2026.