West Kent College principal Paul Hannan has resigned.

A spokesman for the Hadlow group, which runs the Tonbridge college - together with Hadlow College and Ashford College - confirmed today (March 20) he had stepped down.

In a statement the group also admitted it was receiving government handouts to keep afloat.

A Department of Education refused to comment on reports of a financial investigation "ongoing or otherwise."

The statement added: "We are currently receiving Exceptional Financial Support from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and are working closely with them to ensure we are able to meet all of our liabilities, whilst not compromising on the quality of the courses currently on offer at any of the Hadlow Group colleges or sites.

"Our primary goal has always been to provide our students, and the wider communities we serve, with an excellent learning experience. The successes of our students are testament to this.”

Mr Hannan’s resignation follows that of deputy chief executive, Mark Lumsden-Taylor last month.

Last week the college said Mr Hannan had been suspended having previously said he was “taking time off due to ill health”  - and had been replaced by interim principal, Graham Morley.

Kent education news

This latest twist follows a troubled history at West Kent College which underwent a failed re-branding as K College in 2010.

The college was taken over by the Hadlow Group in 2014, which also runs the Rosemary Shrager Cookery School in Tunbridge Wells and Hadlow Rural Community School.

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