Our Vision & Mission Statement ensures we have a positive impact for our students, our businesses and our community.
Jenny Craig - Principal and Chief Executive
Jenny has a strong leadership and management background in Further Education holding a number of senior positions including Deputy Principal and Vice Principal of Curriculum and Quality. Prior to her time in Further Education Jenny worked in Corporate Banking with Barclays Bank.
Jenny is a passionate advocate of technical, professional and vocational skills, education and training. She is dedicated to enabling all students to flourish, thrive and achieve more than they ever thought possible through leading an outstanding team delivering inspirational learning experiences. She strongly believes that colleges should be at the heart of the community they serve, working closely with employers and wider community stakeholders to transform lives and drive local and regional economic success and social well-being.
Jenny is Chair of the Buckinghamshire Skills Strategy Board and sits on the Buckinghamshire Growth Board and the Strategic Board of the Bucks Health and Social Care Academy. Jenny holds a degree in Economics and Business Economics, a Post Graduate Certificate in Post Compulsory Education as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management and has completed the Preparing for CEO Strategic Leadership Programme at the Saïd Business School, Oxford University.
Jenny is a passionate advocate of technical, professional and vocational skills, education and training. She is dedicated to enabling all students to flourish, thrive and achieve more than they ever thought possible through leading an outstanding team delivering inspirational learning experiences. She strongly believes that colleges should be at the heart of the community they serve, working closely with employers and wider community stakeholders to transform lives and drive local and regional economic success and social well-being.
Jenny is Chair of the Buckinghamshire Skills Strategy Board and sits on the Buckinghamshire Growth Board and the Strategic Board of the Bucks Health and Social Care Academy. Jenny holds a degree in Economics and Business Economics, a Post Graduate Certificate in Post Compulsory Education as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management and has completed the Preparing for CEO Strategic Leadership Programme at the Saïd Business School, Oxford University.
John McGrath - Chief Operating Officer
John joined the College in 2014, initially as the Director of Finance. Prior to this John spent 20 years in the private sector, the last 10 years with Babcock International Group. Much of this time was spent working with the public sector, including an educational improvement business.
John is a qualified accountant and his background includes a significant amount of commercial finance and change management.
John is a qualified accountant and his background includes a significant amount of commercial finance and change management.
Hannah James - Vice Principal Curriculum and Quality
Hannah joined the College in 2023 and has worked in Further Education for over 20 years. She has extensive knowledge of post-16 education as a teacher, manager, and leader in the sector.
Hannah has held a number of leadership positions including Head of Faculty and Head of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and Assistant Principal Learning Innovation. She holds a degree in Fine Art, a Post Graduate Certificate in Post Compulsory Education as well as a masters degree in Education.
Hannah is steadfastly student focused. She is experienced in planning, designing, and delivering a high-quality and careers-focused curriculum; leading the creation of learning experiences that are inclusive, innovative, and impactful; and challenging colleagues and students to go beyond ambition.
Hannah is passionate about life-long learning and ensuring that all students access high-quality teaching to transform their futures.
Hannah has held a number of leadership positions including Head of Faculty and Head of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and Assistant Principal Learning Innovation. She holds a degree in Fine Art, a Post Graduate Certificate in Post Compulsory Education as well as a masters degree in Education.
Hannah is steadfastly student focused. She is experienced in planning, designing, and delivering a high-quality and careers-focused curriculum; leading the creation of learning experiences that are inclusive, innovative, and impactful; and challenging colleagues and students to go beyond ambition.
Hannah is passionate about life-long learning and ensuring that all students access high-quality teaching to transform their futures.
Tracey Matthews – Vice Principal Commercial and Partnerships
Tracey joined the College in 2023 and has worked in training and education for over 30 years, running her own training company for 20 years then, after selling the business, she has worked in colleges ever since.
Tracey’s enthusiasm for Further Education comes from her own college experience as a 16-18 year old. From this her early career was working for a diverse range of employers, from multinationals to business start-ups in engineering, international marketing and distribution, banking and software development. Tracey has a Master’s degree in Business and Administration, specialising in entrepreneurship and the developing business. She enjoys building relationships with employers, seeking opportunity for early career talent pipelines and training for existing staff.
Tracey has a real passion for Apprenticeships, believing that high quality apprenticeships develop high performing employees.
Tracey’s enthusiasm for Further Education comes from her own college experience as a 16-18 year old. From this her early career was working for a diverse range of employers, from multinationals to business start-ups in engineering, international marketing and distribution, banking and software development. Tracey has a Master’s degree in Business and Administration, specialising in entrepreneurship and the developing business. She enjoys building relationships with employers, seeking opportunity for early career talent pipelines and training for existing staff.
Tracey has a real passion for Apprenticeships, believing that high quality apprenticeships develop high performing employees.
Nicky Ellis – Assistant Principal Student Engagement and Support
Nicky, grew up locally, studying Hospitality and Catering at the College, which launched her successful career as a chef. After gaining extensive experience and travelling, she returned to Aylesbury with a desire to give back to her community.
Nicky retrained as a teacher, specialising in special education with a focus on challenging behaviours. With 29 years of experience in the special education and further education sectors, she is a fully qualified Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and is deeply committed to inclusivity. She firmly believes that with the right support, everyone can achieve their full potential, as she herself has demonstrated. Nicky takes great pride in being a part of Bucks College Group and the local community, and is dedicated to making a positive impact on all the young people who attend the College.
Nicky retrained as a teacher, specialising in special education with a focus on challenging behaviours. With 29 years of experience in the special education and further education sectors, she is a fully qualified Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and is deeply committed to inclusivity. She firmly believes that with the right support, everyone can achieve their full potential, as she herself has demonstrated. Nicky takes great pride in being a part of Bucks College Group and the local community, and is dedicated to making a positive impact on all the young people who attend the College.
Oliver Roth - Executive Director MIS and Digital Transformation
Having started out on the NHS graduate scheme, Oli has spent his career driving forward change in organisations with an obvious social impact, working at the intersection of technology and business processes. He previously worked as a digital consultant within the Department for Education and Apprenticeship Service, where he developed a strong interest in education.
More recently he was the Group Strategy and Operations Manager for a nationwide group of social care and housing companies, leading business critical systems implementation and integration projects across a highly complex organisation with dozens of sites. He holds a BA in English from the University of Oxford and recently graduated with Distinction from his MBA at London Business School.
More recently he was the Group Strategy and Operations Manager for a nationwide group of social care and housing companies, leading business critical systems implementation and integration projects across a highly complex organisation with dozens of sites. He holds a BA in English from the University of Oxford and recently graduated with Distinction from his MBA at London Business School.
