Virginia Barrett

Further Education Lead

Principal CEO of Farnborough College of Technology

Virginia has been Principal CEO of Farnborough College of Technology since 2016.  She joined the further education sector in 1993 as a teacher.  By 2000 she became dissatisfied with the number of British students leaving schools with poor qualifications.  Consequently, she has worked over the years in various colleges shaping curriculum for young people and adults, particularly in close collaboration with schools, employers, Higher Education, LEPs, local authorities, County Councils and others.  A graduate in Business and Finance, she also holds an MBA in Educational Leadership. Virginia’s motivation to support a truly employer-led education in the South East and more widely is one of the reasons she values the opportunity to be a serving member of the Enterprise M3 LBoard. As a Director, Virginia’s aim over the next few years is to be one of the voices influencing industry and learner centric technical/vocational education, both regionally and nationally.