Q: What’s the main purpose of your role as Campus Manager?

Louise: I always say our role is about being a familiar face for students when they’re outside the classroom. If they need help or have any concerns, we’re there to assist them or direct them to the right person. We work closely with security and ensure that the College’s standards are upheld.

Jack: We’re the first point of contact for any issues, whether they’re inside or outside the classroom. We work with internal teams and handle situations related to student behaviour, making sure everyone follows the College’s code of conduct. This includes everything from wearing lanyards to how students communicate with staff. Our goal is to prepare students for the workplace and life after college.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?

Louise: My day starts at the front barriers, greeting students with a smile and a “Good morning.” Then I walk around the campus, checking in with students and making sure they’re safe and where they need to be. I’m always in the main areas during breaktimes and lunch, so I’m easy to find if students need me.

Jack: We’re always around to support students. We greet them at the entrance and make sure they know we’re here for them. It’s all about being approachable and visible so we can quickly deal with any issues that come up.

Q: How are you finding the job so far?

Louise: I absolutely love it. A lot of students don’t always know about the different services, clubs, and societies we offer, so I see it as part of my role to make sure their experience at college is the best it can be. I want them to feel happy and safe here.

Jack: It’s a combination of the things I enjoyed about teaching and personal development, but with a broader focus on preparing students for life after college, helping them understand policies and procedures.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your role?

Jack: The most rewarding part has been seeing how much better students are responding to the College’s standards. For example, we’ve seen a big improvement in students wearing their lanyards, which was a challenge at first.

Louise: I’ve also noticed more students stepping up to represent their peers through student voice, which is fantastic. It’s great to see them taking ownership and giving us feedback. We’re here to support them, but we’re also preparing them for the real world by helping them develop skills that will benefit them in their future careers.

What are your main responsibilities?

I now oversee the services that build skills and resilience so students can have this amazing, transformative experience. Specifically, I have responsibility for the Positive Behaviour team, the Well-being team, Personal Development, Enrichment, and College Voice. I also oversee the Campus Managers and act as a Designated Safeguarding Lead.

What are your current priorities and plans?

Right now, we’re focused on reframing our student services under a trauma-informed approach and looking to share these practices and skills across the entire college. Now, post-pandemic and with ongoing challenges like the cost-of-living crisis, every student walking through our doors is likely to have experienced some form of associative trauma. The support landscape has evolved tremendously. There is more of a lens focus on mental health, wellbeing and how it relates to internalised and externalised behaviour in our students in a broader sense. This shift has allowed our support services to grow and become more nuanced, with direct approaches to behaviour that aligns our College Values and with the six core principles of trauma-informed care: Providing safety, trustworthiness and transparency, choice, collaboration, empowerment and cultural consideration.

What is your favourite thing about working at MK College?

It’s all about the students and the people. I’ve been blessed to work with some amazing teams. I am blown away by how committed, passionate and resilient they are, especially when you consider the constant challenges they face, the high volumes of referrals and the increasing complexity of need requiring our support. All of us share the responsibility, so it feels like a family. Inclusivity is a core value here, and everyone goes the extra mile. What I love most is that, while we might not have all the answers to the major societal challenges; we take them on together and work towards solutions. I’m incredibly proud of that.

Anything else you’d like to share?

From my early days as a youth worker to now, I’ve always been inspired by young people and their resilience. Hearing their voices, supporting them, and seeing them overcome extreme hurdles to achieve success is a privilege. It’s amazing to be part of that journey.

Q: What does the College do to help students develop skills for getting a job?

A: At MK College we go beyond just delivering qualifications and help students develop essential employability skills. While qualifications can open doors and help you get through interviews, it’s skills such as teamwork, reliability, and communication that really make a difference. We believe that having the right attitude is key.

Q: How does the College help students recognise their existing skills?

A: Right from the start, we help students identify the skills they already have. We’ve never met a student who doesn’t have something they can build on. For example, helping to look after a younger relative or older neighbour shows trustworthiness and reliability, both valuable skills in the workplace.

Q: How can parents support their children in developing these skills?

A: Parents can play a big role by encouraging their teenagers to take responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes. They can also encourage part-time jobs, volunteering, or involvement in activities such as Scouts or sports, which help build important transferable skills. Finding ways to help them learn to manage their own time and take responsibility is crucial.

Q: How can parents support the College in this effort?

A: Parents can get involved by volunteering at our career events, offering to talk about their careers, conducting mock interviews, or providing work experience opportunities. If interested, they can contact our careers team at careersteam@mkcollege.ac.uk or follow MK College on LinkedIn for updates on events and opportunities.

Wellbeing and Resilience team

Q: What does the Wellbeing and Resilience team do?

A: Our team’s purpose is to support and look after the wellbeing and mental health of our students.

Q: What qualifications and specialisms do you have to support students?

A: All team members have mental health first aid and safeguarding qualifications and are all Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs), as well as recieving training in their own specialist areas. I am one of the College’s Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs). Caroline is a qualified counsellor. Camilla looks after under-16s, looked-after young people, care leavers and young asylum seekers.

Q: What kind of help does the Wellbeing and Resilience team offer students?

A: Students can talk to us about anything, including mental health issues, social-emotional issues, and home issues. Sometimes, students just want to talk to someone confidentially. We support people in crisis, for example, if they are experiencing relationship problems, or home problems. We try to guide them through and teach them some strategies to help.

Q: How do wellbeing advisers provide 1:1 student support?

A: Wellbeing advisers have a caseload where they can meet with students every week or check in with them ad-hoc.

Q: How can students access wellbeing support?

A: On their application, they can tick the wellbeing box, which creates the referral that comes through to me. I triage the referrals and give them to my guys on their caseloads. Referrals come in throughout the year, and students can also self-refer.

Q: How does the College prioritise student wellbeing?

A: The College has invested hugely in this. We have wellbeing rooms at both campuses. I am based in Bletchley, but we have staff at both sites and staff work across both sites. When I started in this role, it was just myself. In the last five years, we have grown from just one person to now having five advisers. Awareness about mental health has increased a lot. Thankfully, there’s not such a stigma about mental health and struggling and needing to talk.

Q: How do you ensure a joined-up approach?

A: What we do in our sessions is confidential unless it is a safeguarding issue. But with student permission, we do a lot of middleman work. If students are not confident talking to tutors, we can talk to them on their behalf and reach out to them. We have great relationships with staff and the Heads of School.

Q: How does the Wellbeing Team engage with parents?

A: We have really good relationships with parents. We welcome parent input because if we are all working together and aware of what is going on, it’s good.

Q: What’s the best part about your role?

A: Just knowing that you’re helping, especially if a student is in crisis and knowing we have the skills to get them in a good place again. Without our support, some students wouldn’t be emotionally ready to be at college and complete their courses. We make a difference.  

Contact the Wellbeing and Resilience team by emailing wellbeingteam@mkcollege.ac.uk or students can self-refer by emailing ineedsupport@mkcollege.ac.uk

Behaviour Team Spotlight

Q: What is your role at MK College?

A: My role at MK College focuses on observing and managing student behaviour and working with curriculum teams to facilitate engagement. This includes monitoring how students act and interact in and outside of classes and developing positive relationships. We also keep a close eye on attendance and absences as these things can become barriers to learning. Dealing with any incidents that may arise is a big part of my job, involving meetings and creating contracts with students to make sure everyone is treated fairly and respectfully. My role is all about advocating for and helping students at MK College, making sure they meet the expected standards and feel supported in their education.

Q: How do you maintain a safe environment at the college?

A: Charlie and I move around the College, ensuring that students treat each other respectfully. Encouraging students to follow the rules is part of this, which means ensuring students wear ID badges, dress appropriately and demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning and each other. This helps keep the college running calmly and smoothly. Our main goal is to encourage a positive approach to learning, fostering an environment where students can thrive.

Q: Can you elaborate on the behaviour strategies you use?

A: Absolutely. We use different methods like creating Behaviour Contracts that break down the College’s expectations and enable students to understand how this applies to them. We follow a structured disciplinary process and intervene promptly and consistently as and when appropriate. Mediation is crucial for resolving conflicts, setting boundaries, and promoting positive interactions among students. These efforts offer valuable chances for students to understand and show respect, aligning with the College’s core values. Outside organisations are also really important to what we do. They give talks and hold workshops about behaviour, offering insights on how attitudes can change for the better. Working together like this helps us make a real difference in students’ behaviour and increases self-esteem and a sense of belonging.

Q: How do you contribute to student well-being?

A: Being mindful of the challenges students face is at the heart of what we do. Besides managing behaviour, we concentrate on looking after students’ well-being, both mentally and physically. Our aim is to understand their learning and social needs, so they feel supported and motivated. It’s not just about enforcing rules; it’s about creating an environment where students can flourish and develop as individuals and as an active part of wider society.

Q: How do you communicate with parents and carers?

A: Staying connected with parents and carers is important and we regularly update them on their young person’s progress. We carefully record all incidents and share this information as appropriate with the intent of supporting and encouraging positive communication. This helps the college and parents/carers to work together to support the student’s development.

Q: What’s the best part about your role?

A: Without a doubt the most enjoyable aspect of my work at MK College is the students and the amazing people I get to work with. In our department, the Student Support and Development team, we manage areas like Safeguarding, Wellbeing, Behaviour, Student Support, and Personal Development. Each team member plays a crucial role, and we work together to make sure that every student receives the support they need. The camaraderie and our shared dedication to our mission keeps us going, especially during our busiest times.