College board replaced

A new board has been appointed at a Glasgow college which has been under investigation after suspending its principal.

After Glasgow Clyde College suspended its principal Susan Walsh in February, the Scottish Funding Council launched an investigation into the institution’s governance.

Education Secretary Angela Constance has used a government order to remove the board, which has this morning been replaced.

“We have been engaging directly with the College since May after staff, students and local representatives raised concerns about governance.

“The outgoing board has failed to discharge its duties on a number of counts, including breaching clear rules on expenditure limits, allowing its relationship with student representatives to break down, and failing to investigate governance concerns raised by the Principal before her suspension.”

She said only by replacing the board could the college move forward.

The move comes after teaching union EIS had written to the Cabinet secretary urging her to be “proactive”.

The union’s General Secretary Larry Flanagan said the crisis at the college had been "played out in the media through a series of leaks and behind the scenes briefings, with a potentially damaging impact on the reputation of the college".

The new board will be chaired by NHS Forth Valley chairman Alex Linkston, former chief executive of West Lothian Council.

He said he was “very pleased” to take on the role.

“Public confidence in the governance of the college is essential to its success. I’m looking forward to working with the new board, students and staff to ensure it is well run and delivers the best possible outcomes for all those studying, working and engaging in other ways with the college,” he said.