A FORMER student who left school at 15 with no formal qualifications is going back to his old college - as the new principal and chief executive.

Stephen Grix, 48, will take up the position at Mid Kent College, based in Horsted, Chatham, in March.

The married father-of-three will replace John Levett who stepped down in November after 20 years at the college, seven as principal and chief executive.

Mr Grix faces the immediate challenge of masterminding the closure of the college’s sites in Horsted and City Way, Rochester, which are due to be sold for housing, and the move to a new £48m campus at Lower Lines, Gillingham.

The new scheme has been planned for around two years, and follows a recent £4m expansion of MKC’s other campus at Oakwood Park, Maidstone.

MKC is Kent's largest college of higher and further education and was one of the first colleges in England to be awarded Action for Business College (ABC) status for its work with local firms.

Mr Grix has enjoyed an illustrious career in the upper echelons of education, including head of post compulsory education at Ofsted and his present role as director of education with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

His links with the MKC began in 1971 when he was enrolled as a day release student on a bricklaying course. He was judged the best City and Guilds brickwork student in 1973-74 and awarded a pointing trowel he later used to build the extension of his own home.

He started his academic career as a brickwork lecturer at Bexley College in 1977 before going on to teaching posts in Barking and Basingstoke. Mr Grix returned to MKC in 1984 to complete his first degree.

Other members of his Grix family also have close links with the college. His wife, Caroline, studied at MKC, his eldest daughter, Amy, graduated from the University of Kent (MKC is a university Associate College) and both Amy and her sister, Rebecca, have studied at MKC partner Canterbury Christ Church University College.

Denis Turner, chairman of the governors, said: “Stephen’s appointment signifies the start of an exciting new era at Mid-Kent College.

“Along with plans to relocate our Medway centres to a £48m purpose built development, there are many changes taking place in the further and higher education sector. We believe Stephen has the skills and ability to lead us.”

Mr Grix said: “I am looking forward to returning to Mid-Kent College, although in a very different capacity from my time as a student.

“With so many family links to the college, I know my every move will be carefully monitored. Mid-Kent College is a strong and vibrant education provider and I am keen to see what the future holds.“