Have you ever considered a career in teaching? If so, you’ve probably imagined being stood in a classroom teaching in a primary school, secondary school or maybe a sixth form college. But have you ever thought about teaching in a Further Education (FE) College? 

Teaching in FE can be an exciting, rewarding and fulfilling career. Take a look below for just some of the reasons you should consider it. 

Use skills you already have, just in a different way

Most of our teachers here at Milton Keynes College have come to us after working in industry. They have skills and expertise in everything from construction to catering, engineering to games design, cyber security to beauty therapy. And now they get to use all of that knowledge in a different way, taking on a new challenge and developing new skills: 

Share your knowledge, insights and passion with learners 

Teaching in FE means that you can take the valuable insights you have from your career in your chosen industry and pass them on to learners who are just getting started. Is there something you wish you’d known when you started out in your industry? Or a gap in the knowledge of those you recruited at your place of work? This is your chance to pass these crucial lessons on and help to shape the professionals of the future. 

Jack Maude, now Campus Manager, first joined the College as a barbering tutor before then progressing into the role of Personal Development Lead: “Before joining the College, I built my career in the barbering industry. I started as an apprentice, and eventually progressed to becoming a full-time barber. I thrived in the fast-paced environment and enjoyed collaborating with the talented teams I worked alongside. 

“My decision to move from the industry into teaching in FE was driven by a desire to give back and share my knowledge with the next generation. I realised that I could make a significant impact by mentoring and guiding students, helping them develop the skills necessary for success in the industry. Additionally, I wanted a role that offered a better work-life balance and allowed me to continue learning and growing in a different capacity. Teaching seemed like the perfect fit, allowing me to leverage my industry experience while nurturing future professionals.” 

Make a difference in our learners’ lives 

Here at Milton Keynes College, we strive to deliver Fairer Futures for our learners, and you could be a part of that mission. We welcome learners from a wide range of backgrounds and skill levels, so as part of our teaching team you can help to directly shape our learners’ futures, teaching them vital skills not just for their chosen careers but for their lives outside of education and work as well. We all have that one teacher who supported us when we needed it most, who helped us become who we are today. You could be that person for our learners – and who doesn’t want that?! 

Clifford Clarke, Head of Construction and Engineering: “Teaching in FE is all about unlocking opportunities and opening doors for people. You’ll be providing our students with the chance to embark on new careers that they didn’t even dream were possible, and to give them a route into their chosen career.” 

Bring your true self to work 

At MK College Group, Belonging is one of our key values and it’s important to us that our colleagues feel that they can bring their true selves to work. As part of this, we’re proud to have five employee networks: Cultural Diversity, Disability, LGBTQ, Women’s and Men’s.  The overarching aims for the employee networks are to provide a safe space for discussion of important issues, help to raise awareness of issues within the wider organisation and provide a source of support for individual staff who may be facing challenges at work. All employees can join any one of the employee networks and engage at a level that is comfortable for them. 

We’ve been recognised for our work to support employees from a wide range of backgrounds, including Leaders in Diversity accreditation from the National Centre for Diversity and are signatories to the Race At Work Charter and the new Association of Colleges (AoC) EDI Charter. We have also achieved the Silver Awards for the Armed Forces Covenant in recognition of our support for the armed forces communities, are recognised as a Disability Confident Employer, a Mindful Employer, and are currently working towards the Rainbow Flag Award and Menopause Friendly Workplace status. 

There’s no such thing as a typical day!  

While our teaching staff of course work to a set timetable, there are plenty of opportunities for a break from the norm. Whether it’s taking students on trips to visit employers, welcoming in visiting lecturers for workshops with learners, taking part in a volunteering project on the College Group’s College in the Community Day, or developing your skills at our colleague CPD Days, there’s a lot going on outside of usual lessons. 

Clifford Clarke, Head of Construction and Engineering: “There isn’t a typical day when teaching in FE. No two days are the same – you may spend time during your day teaching students, meeting with employers. undertaking CPD, marking work, planning lessons or meeting with your peers to plan a wider project. There’s so much going on in any given day that you’ll never get bored!” 

You don’t need to be an experienced or qualified teacher

Are you interested in moving into a career in teaching but don’t have any experience of or qualifications in teaching? Don’t worry, that’s where we come in! All you need to bring is your skills from industry and a passion for passing on your knowledge, and we can provide full teacher training to get you ready for your exciting new career. 

You can work in your industry and teach at the same time 

If you’re interested in teaching in FE but don’t want to completely step away from your career in industry, you don’t have to! We have plenty of teaching colleagues who combine teaching at the College with their jobs in industry – it can be a great way to keep up to date with the latest trends, skills and best practice so you can pass on the most up-to-date skills to your learners. 

Amy Farnfield teaches the CIPD Level 5 qualification at MK College while also working at her own HR consultancy, Notebook and Pen: “Combining my work as an HR Professional with teaching in FE provides students with the opportunity to understand practical application and experience of their subject matter from someone who is engaged in the industry. I thoroughly enjoy learning from the students too, it’s an opportunity to listen to a wide range of perspectives, along with healthy discussions and conversations about pertinent matters across the HR industry.  

“Working in the HR profession and teaching students brings learning to life as we can practically apply concepts and theory, legal matters and future thinking to what is going on right now and into the future. Teaching FE students and working in HR is a wonderful blend of a passion for all things people and being able to share this with professionals in the HR industry who are keen to learn and develop themselves. 

“I fully recommend anyone looking to expand their thinking and continue their own learning and development to consider teaching in FE. “ 

Career progression opportunities 

Once you’re teaching at an FE College, there are a whole range of opportunities to progress and develop your career – perhaps some you didn’t even know about before! Whether it’s a more senior teaching or curriculum role or you may eventually want to move to a different department or function entirely. You’ll find a great deal of resources and support at MK College to help you develop your career. 

Jack Maude said: “I spent around four academic years in a teaching role before moving into non-teaching positions at the College. During that period, my focus was on providing high-quality education and actively engaging with students to support their success. This experience gave me a strong foundation in the educational field and equipped me to take on new challenges in non-teaching roles. I transitioned into areas like personal development, which allowed me to contribute to curriculum design, take on administrative responsibilities, and collaborate with a team dedicated to student support services. 

“Working at MK College has been incredibly beneficial for my career. The supportive environment and opportunities for professional development have allowed me to enhance my skills and knowledge continuously. I’ve had the chance to work with a diverse group of colleagues and students, which has broadened my perspective and enriched my understanding of different educational needs. Additionally, the College encourages innovation and creativity, enabling me to implement new teaching strategies and contribute to the development of programs that better prepare students for the workforce.” 

Be part of an amazing team and wider MK College Group community 

At MK College Group, we have over 1,200 colleagues who work across our 16-19 provision, our South Cental Institute of Technology, adult education and prison education. While this wide range of provision means that colleagues’ roles vary widely, we all have one thing in common: we’re all committed to delivering Fairer Futures for our learners and wider communities. If this sounds like something you’d be passionate about too, then teaching in FE and joining our MK College Group community, then we want to hear from you. 

Jack Maude added: “To anyone considering moving from industry into teaching in FE, I would say it’s a highly rewarding career choice. It offers a unique opportunity to shape the future by imparting your industry knowledge and experience to students who are eager to learn. While the transition may come with its challenges, such as adapting to a different pace and environment, the personal and professional fulfilment you gain from helping students achieve their goals is unmatched. Moreover, teaching in FE provides a great work-life balance and the chance to continually learn and grow alongside your students.” 

To find out more about working for MK College Group and see the latest vacancies we have available, visit Working for Us – MK College