Amy Langford, Staff Profile
Group Director of Inclusion
Q: How long have you worked at Milton Keynes College Group?
A: I’ve been at MK College for over 20 years and have been in my current role for almost three years. My time at the College started in the Learning Support department supporting in and out of class. Over the years the landscape of special educational needs (SEND) has changed so much and, our provision has adapted and developed alongside it during my time here.
Q: What are the main responsibilities of your role?
A: In essence, my job is to oversee all the student support services across the college and our wider work in the community. This includes Additional Learning Support (ALS), Wellbeing, Careers, Behaviour, Student Voice and our Community Engagement. My role is to ensure we offer support that helps students access and manage their time at college successfully. I am also the Senior Mental Health Lead and the Safeguarding and Prevent Lead for the College, roles that are critical to student and staff wellbeing and welfare.
Q: How does MK College support students?
A: If we talk about our commitment to Building Fairer Futures; most students will face some kind of challenge or barrier that can make it hard for them to engage with their studies at some point during their journey with us. We advocate for students to help them stay in college, offering direct support and creating a safe environment for everyone. We also listen to student feedback, which is crucial to creating a positive student experience. We achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating for our provision for students with High Needs from Ofsted which is testament to the fantastic work of the wider teams and our Inclusive Learning department. We have also signed the Mental Health Charter which evidences our commitment to this important area of work.
Q: What new initiatives or partnerships have you implemented to support students?
A: We always strive to be responsive to the needs of our students and wider community and have added more roles, such as our Positive Behaviour team and Campus Managers. Our support services are growing ever stronger and we work closely with the Arthur Ellis Mental Health foundation to provide therapeutic mentoring for our students. The Mental Health Mile has been a real success and our Wellbeing team were shortlisted for an AoC Beacon award.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: This year I was part of a small working group from across MK and Bucks focussing on the links between School Inclusion and Criminality led by the High Sheriff. This culminated in a Symposium held at Bletchley Park, bringing together colleagues from across education, police, social care and beyond to explore how we identify and address challenges within the education system that can lead to negative outcomes for young people. This critical piece of work is ongoing and I am really proud to be a part of it.
Q: What are your current priorities and plans?
A: We recently achieved White Ribbon Accreditation, pledging our commitment to eradicating violence against women and girls. This is a significant piece of work that involves all aspects of our business. We are conscious of our role within the wider context of Milton Keynes and always strive to make a difference. We are looking at new Participation roles designed to engage with students most at risk of becoming NEET (not in employment, education or training) and I am excited about this.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at the College?
A: Seeing and feeling the impact of the work of the support teams and the wider college is hugely rewarding. We have seen huge shifts in the needs, wants and behaviours of our students over the last five years; to be a part of supporting students to engage and thrive is a privilege.