A Year of Growth, Opportunity and Leadership as LSST’s Vice Principal
Article Date | 19 October, 2024
By Charlie Tennant, LSST Vice Principal,
Since assuming my role in September 2023, I have had the privilege of immersing myself deeply within the fabric of LSST. Through meaningful dialogues with colleagues across departments and campuses, I have gained a profound appreciation for the dedication and commitment that has shaped LSST’s journey thus far.
The insights obtained have afforded me a clearer understanding of the tremendous efforts invested by our staff and also a sharpened awareness of the challenges faced by both our students and faculty as they strive for success in their academic and professional endeavours. This experience has reinforced my resolve to ensure LSST remains a nurturing environment where everyone can flourish.

What has impressed me most since joining LSST is the profound sense of camaraderie and belonging—a feeling of being part of a close-knit community, something I’ve not experienced so strongly in any other environment. This sense of unity means that everyone understands how their efforts contribute to LSST’s overall mission, vision, and objectives, which is a rare and invaluable quality in any institution.
This togetherness not only strengthens our internal community but also positively impacts the experiences of our students. Our NSS results support this and although data alone can’t capture the full story—the story of how attuned our staff are to the needs of our students and the extraordinary lengths they go to support them, from admission through to graduation and beyond. LSST is truly a place where you can grow both academically and personally, achieve your potential and make your mark on the world.
I reflect on LSST’s ambitions for the next decade. The institution’s aspirations to attain degree-awarding powers and implement an approved Access and Participation Plan fill me with excitement. I am pleased to have witnessed the early stages of this next phase through several key initiatives to which many dedicated colleagues have contributed.

Here are just a few key initiatives that have marked the beginning of this exciting next phase for LSST:
– The drafting of our Access and Participation Plan, with record investments in support mechanisms for students from marginalised groups.
– Our initial application for degree-awarding powers.
– The opening of our new Stratford campus, extending LSST’s high-quality education and student support to East London.
– The opening of our LSST Wembley Hive (London) campus to cater for our successful growth in the area.
– The introduction of revised stretch targets and KPIs for staff to ensure we continue achieving great outcomes for our students.
– A careers strategy that includes a new staff structure and the launch of Handshake, enhancing career opportunities for students.
– Re-introduction of the LSST Dragon’s Den enterprise competition
– Our continued success in the NSS, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to student support.
– Strengthened existing partnerships and the creation of exciting new ones, helping us expand our course portfolio.
– A renewed focus on improving degree attainment across all student groups.
– Implementation of weekly engagement tracking and monthly panels, which has already led to higher attendance rates, improved pass rates, and reduced withdrawal rates.
As I reflect on these achievements, I must take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to all colleagues—from Mr Syed Zaidi, our CEO, and Ali Jafar Zaidi, our Deputy CEO, to my fellow senior leaders, including Heads of Departments, Deans, and the dedicated staff at Memo House and across all campuses. It is their unwavering dedication that has made all of this possible. These initiatives mark only the initial steps in our journey toward becoming an even more unified academic community — one that remains deeply committed to widening participation and supporting students of all abilities in their academic, personal and professional development.
As I look ahead to the next 12 months, I am excited to continue this transformative work with the rest of the LSST family, and I eagerly anticipate the further progress we will make together.