Group Principal and CEO
John Laramy CBE DL
John Laramy is Group Principal and CEO of Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group, a position he has held since January 2026. Previously, John was the Principal and Chief Executive of Exeter College, a position he had held since April 2016. Prior to this, John was Vice Principal at the college since 2009.
His background in quality improvement has supported the college’s drive for excellence – this was recognised in 2014 and 2022 by Outstanding grades in full Ofsted inspections. John has extensive experience of the full academic and vocational curriculum for 16-19 year olds, including A Levels, International Baccalaureate, BTEC qualifications, Apprenticeships and foundation learning. Exeter College also offers a wide range of Adult and community learning, Higher Education programmes and customised courses for businesses.
John started his career in the construction industry and after teaching Karate in his spare time decided on a change. After undertaking a full-time PGCE at the University of Greenwich in 1996, whilst teaching part-time at North West Kent College, he started as a Lecturer at North Devon College in 1997. Progressing through various roles, John joined the Senior Management Team in 2005. John has spoken nationally on vocational education, Ofsted inspections and quality improvement.
John was a non-executive Director of Pearson Education Limited from 2018-2024 and completed a full term of office on the Local Enterprise Partnership Board (2019-2022). John has been Chair of the Tertiary Colleges Group since 2017 and is a member of the Education Training Foundation steering group for leadership development at the Oxford Said Business School. John was Founding Chair of the Exeter Specialist Mathematics School and a Founding Director of the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust – John remains a member representing the college in both organisations.
In June 2022, John was appointed to be one of just seven National Leaders of Further Education (NLFE) by the Department for Education. He has just agreed to continue as a NLFE for a further three years. In August 2024, John was asked to join the independent Curriculum & Assessment Review, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE – this group reports to the Secretary of State for Education. In August 2025, Exeter College was selected to be the Construction Technical Excellence College for the South West region, one of just ten nationally.
John holds an MSc in Educational Leadership from the University of Leicester. He has completed leadership development programmes at Oxford’s Said Business School in 2017 and in 2023 completed the world-renowned Executive Leadership Programme at Harvard Business School. He is a full corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Building. John lives just outside Exeter and is married to Donna. They have two children aged 16 and 18 and a fox red Labrador – Bailey! John actively supports Exeter Chiefs, Exeter City Football Club and Liverpool FC.
John was awarded a CBE in 2020, in the New Year’s Honours list, for services to education.
