Meet the Team: Tim Gallagher Head of Student Development and Support
When did you join MK College?
I’ve been in my current role for about two years, but I’ve been part of MK College, on and off, for around 16 years. Prior to this I worked in Student Services at the London School of Economics, worked in Occupational Therapy in a number of placements across the UK, developed supported-living projects in the local community and volunteered for an NGO setting up similar projects in India. My journey here started in 2008 when I joined the college as a youth worker with a specialism in disabilities and inclusion. After two years, I was promoted to Head of ALS, overseeing SEND provision and learning support at the college
I later took a career break to raise my children, but as my daughter started school, I was approached about returning to a new role as the Student Development Manager, focusing on student development and well-being. This role allowed me to draw on my youth work experience, particularly in resilience building and helping students through their longer-term journeys through informal learning opportunities.
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.