Meet the leadership team – the group responsible for shaping every aspect of college life and driving its future direction.
Each member brings a wealth of expertise, not only in their specialist field, but also in leadership and management within education. Together, they are committed to ensuring the college continues to thrive, placing students and partners at the heart of everything we do. With an open and approachable style of leadership, our senior managers actively listen, welcome feedback, and use it to continually improve the services and opportunities we provide.
Andrew Cropley MBE
Principal/CEO
- 01623 900506
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Andrew joined West Nottinghamshire College in May 2019, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience across the Royal Navy and the Further Education sector.
His career began with 21 years in the Navy, including roles in personnel development and as Commanding Officer of the Defence School of Languages, before moving into senior positions at The Sheffield College, Warwickshire College Group, Stratford-upon-Avon College, and Cadbury Sixth Form College.
At West Notts, Andrew has focused on developing a truly empowered culture, strengthening community and employer partnerships, expanding higher-level skills provision, and developing facilities such as robotics centres and simulated hospital wards.
Under his leadership, the college was rated “Good” by Ofsted in 2023 for its strong contribution to local skills.
Beyond the college, Andrew is Chair of the Mansfield Place Board, driving regeneration and collaboration across the district.
He is a strong advocate of the opportunities and experiences that education can provide, transforming the lives of individuals and encouraging communities to thrive.
In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to the communities of Ashfield and Mansfield. He holds degrees in Mathematics, Defence Studies, and Education.
Louise Knott
Vice Principal: Communications, Engagement and Student Experience
- 01623 413553
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Louise started at West Nottinghamshire College as Director of Communications, Marketing and Learner Engagement in 2006.
In 2017 she was appointed as Vice Principal for Communications, Engagement and Student Experience with responsibility for the wider students’ experience, student welfare and pastoral support as well as careers and employability, alongside accountability for external engagement with potential students and stakeholders.
In January 2019, Louise took on the senior leadership responsibility for apprenticeships, in particular managing engagement with employers across all major college funding steams.
Louise has worked in further education for 30 years, prior to that she has worked within journalism and PR. She loves the further education sector and its power to fundamentally transform people’s lives and the community’s prosperity. No two days are the same and she particularly enjoys the work she does with students and local businesses.
Outside of college, Louise holds a number of roles which include Chair of Governors for Healdswood Infant and Nursery School, Vice Chair of the Discover Ashfield Board and a Vice Chair of the Mansfield and Ashfield Business Network. Louise is the further education representative for the Nottinghamshire looked after young people’s strategic partnership.
In her spare time Louise is a semi-reluctant football and rugby mum – spending much of her weekends and some weeknights trying to behave on muddy touch-lines all over the region! When she’s not doing that, she likes baking (nowhere near Bake Off standard) and is an avid Lego builder.
Diane Booth
Vice Principal: Curriculum and Quality
- 01623 900431
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Diane started her teaching career in 2000 and quickly progressed to teaching and curriculum co-ordination roles before moving into a quality role as a learning consultant in 2008.
Diane progressed through various roles in quality to become assistant principal for quality and standards in 2016. She has extensive knowledge and experience of teaching and learning, curriculum and quality and standards in further education and has a degree and a masters degree in education.
Diane loves the work she does and is passionate about further education because she believes it changes lives. She was appointed as vice principal for curriculum and quality in June 2023 and thoroughly enjoys working with learners, teachers, managers, leaders, employers and other stakeholders.
She is passionate and totally committed to ensuring that the college meets the needs of learners, employers and the communities it serves.
Diane has always lived, been educated, run her own business and worked locally and outside of work she enjoys, open water swimming, running, walking and spending time with her family and friends.
Gavin Peake
Director: IT, Estates and Learning Resources
- 01623 900431
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Gavin joined the college in 1992 and has spent over 30 years working in a wide variety of roles. Joining the college as a technician and learning advisor he taught part-time for two years on evening courses before joining the computing team as a full-time lecturer.
Moving on to lead the computing department, he then added to this role, leading computing, A levels and community courses. During this time, he led the team to win a Beacon Award for Innovation in IT teaching.
In 2013, he joined the college executive team as director of IT and learning resources, later adding estates to his portfolio in 2019.
Over the last five years he has helped to grow the college from three sites to 11 and has led major developments including the Mansfield Ambition Exchange and new delivery sites for brickwork and plastering (the Old Brewery campus), electrical and plumbing (Portland Square) and motor vehicle (Julias Way).
Jon Fearon
Director: Finance
- 01623 900431
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Jon is a Chartered Management Accountant with over 35 years’ experience of education finance. This covers Local Authority, colleges, private training providers, charitable trust and multi-academy trusts.
He joined the college in 2019 after a 15-year break.
His passion is ensuring that finance at West Nottinghamshire College enables the college to respond to local needs. This approach has helped the college grow its provision across Mansfield and Ashfield.
Jon’s hobbies are travel and countryside walks, as well as being a lifelong supporter of Nottingham Forest Football Club.
Sian Geeson
Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development
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Sian joined the college in 2012 as a HR Business Partner supporting managers and staff with all aspects of the operational HR needs of the college.
In 2020 she joined the first cohort of the college’s Rising Stars development programme, the programme for supporting and developing the future leaders of the college. She then progressed to be head of HR and then became director in 2022.
Sian has over 25 years of working in HR, covering sectors including manufacturing, engineering, retail and education.
Sian says: “I am passionate about the college being a great place to work, where motivated staff can really make a difference to our students’ lives and contribute to the local community.”