Mohammed Ramzan, Principal of John Ruskin College and Graham Hasting-Evans, Managing Director of NOCN (National Open College Network). Pic: MKI Photo

A Croydon college principal has won an award for promoting diversity and inclusion in his school.

Mohammed Ramzan, 42, took home the Principal of The Year award at the National Centre of Diversity Awards 2016. He became principal of John Ruskin College in Croydon in February 2015. The college is rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

This was the first time the National Centre for Diversity has given awards.

CEO of the National Centre for Diversity Solat Chaudhry told Eastlondonlines: “[Ramzan] is the only principal that is actually acting as the equality, diversity and inclusion lead in the UK. He actually took personal responsibility without delegating it.”

Chaudry explained that to win the award, a college must be “an outstanding performer and have done something different to the norm”.

Ramzan said: “I am very proud of these achievements as this is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of our staff, students and governors who have been part of this journey. We are an inclusive college with a focus on learner success, which is central to everything we do. We are delighted that the National Centre for Diversity has recognised the achievements of John Ruskin College.”

Ramzan’s work helped the John Ruskin College earn the National Centre for Diversity’s ‘Leaders in Diversity’ accreditation in 2013. It was the first college in the country to receive it.

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