Building Fairer Futures

With a background in Adult Education, Sally has been part of the team at Milton Keynes College Group since 1999. She became a Director at the College in the early 2000s, supporting the College with its Prison, Adult, and Community Provision and its work with the city’s young NEETs. Sally became the Executive Director for Offender Learning in 2012 and has most recently stepped into the role of CEO in 2022.

With a long-standing commitment to prison education, Sally has focused on making education accessible to everyone and believes in its rehabilitative power. With a commitment to raising the profile of Further Education countrywide and reinforcing cooperation between education and industry, Sally actively fosters partnerships that enhance student opportunities and promotes workforce readiness, ensuring that our learners have the tools to be well-prepared to meet the demands of today’s workplaces and to be positive participants within their communities.

In her free time, Sally is a dedicated English Heritage member, visiting castles and sites of interest, and continues to indulge her life-time love of live music, spending evenings and weekends supporting bands in the many small venues and festivals across the country that make up our vibrant live music scene.

Mark is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years of service in Further Education. He began his career as a Sport Lecturer and gradually advanced into management and senior management roles at colleges including Accrington & Rossendale, Blackpool & Fylde, and The Guernsey Institute. Mark has worked closely with Qualification Awarding Organisations and End Point Assessment Organisations to support their quality systems. Originally from the Lake District in Cumbria, he moved to Milton Keynes in June 2024 to assume the role of Executive Principal at Milton Keynes College Group.

In his spare time, Mark is a sports enthusiast and avid golfer, and he also undertakes roles within football coaching at the semi-professional level.

As Chief Operating Officer of the Milton Keynes College Group since February 2023, Jason is responsible for developing and operationalising strategy, as well as reviewing processes and systems to ensure the successful delivery of this strategy. He began his career with the Group in 1998 as a lecturer at HMP Bullingdon and has since held a variety of roles across both the prison and campus sectors of the Group, transferring to the Milton Keynes campus in 2022.

Passionate about driving continuous improvement, Jason is a strong advocate for creating the conditions necessary for effective professional development. Throughout his career at the College Group, Jason has benefited from numerous development opportunities, which he believes have fostered a deep sense of belonging and made his work more fulfilling. With a strong belief in the importance of a motivated and dedicated staff, he is dedicated to supporting the professional development of our staff. With a team-oriented approach, Jason is committed to making the College Group the best it can be and to exploring how the team can work together most effectively to achieve this.

Susan is an accomplished Group Finance Director with membership of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a master’s degree from Cranfield University. She has been overseeing finances at MK College since 2023. With over 30 years of diverse experience across higher education (University of Hertfordshire and Cranfield University), banking, insurance, manufacturing, and the arts, Susan brings a wealth of strategic expertise to her role.

Her career includes significant experience at a senior level, managing large teams, driving change management initiatives, leading system implementations, and overseeing the operational management of finance teams, including payroll, procurement, risk management, and capital investments.

Outside of work, Susan has volunteered as a Parent Governor, Chair of a Parent Carer Forum, and Co-Chair of Staff Networks, with a strong focus on promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Currently the Group Director for Curriculum Innovation and Pedagogy at the College Group, Maria line manages the Heads of Schools, supports curriculum development, and focuses on enhancing the student experience in the classroom. With an extensive career history in Further Education, including a long tenure at MK College Group, Maria has previously served as the Deputy Director of Faculty, Executive Head for 16-19 Provision, and Head of School for Hairdressing, Barbering, Beauty Therapy, Catering, Hospitality and Motor Vehicle.

A graduate of the London College of Fashion, Maria spent much of her time immersed in hands-on learning – an experience she has since sought to replicate in her work in FE. As a passionate advocate for experiential learning, she has championed and led initiatives such as the collaboration with Silverstone, where Motor Vehicle and Hospitality students work at the racing circuit on a biweekly basis.

Passionate about providing opportunities for young people to find their passion, Maria is committed to removing educational barriers and making education a positive experience, where students feel seen and understood. She believes in the power of education to transform lives, providing young people with opportunities to discover their passion and truly enjoy learning, while feeling seen, understood, and empowered to succeed.

Anna was appointed Group Director of Employer Engagement and Partnerships at Milton Keynes College Group in 2021. She is a Non-Executive Director of Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire Chamber and a SEMLEP Private Sector Director. Overseeing the College’s teams of engagement, apprenticeships, adult learner delivery experts and the groups commercial business, Anna has overall responsibility for ensuring the College Group is at the heart of developing the local economy and supporting communities in Milton Keynes. This includes managing and cultivating partnerships with businesses to grow their talent pipelines, improve skills, and drive meaningful change.

Since joining the College Group in 2016, Anna has amassed a wealth of experience in Further Education and training, holding a variety of senior positions across both the public and private sectors. Committed to nurturing innovation and creativity, Anna believes that collaboration is the key to success – working in partnership to find solutions that drive impactful outcomes for all.

Having previously worked on the financial services sector in people resourcing, Jules began her career in Further Education in 2007 as a Lecturer teaching English, Media A Levels, and GCSEs. In 2010, she joined College Group as a part-time Lecturer, and then rejoined in 2014 as Course Team Leader for Creative Media & Games. Jules then transitioned into People Services, where she has since held a range of roles, including People Engagement & Talent Manager, People Services Manager for Operations, Executive Head of People Services, and, since February 2024, Group Director.

Deeply passionate about people leadership, Jules is committed to fostering engagement, driving talent retention, and leveraging technology to enhance the educational experience and positively impact the lives of all our learners. In her spare time, Julie enjoys gardening, from growing fruit and veg to working on her flower garden.

Amy brings 20 years of experience in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and safeguarding to her role as Group Director of Inclusion and Designated Safeguarding Lead. Passionate about our Building Fairer Futures strategy, she oversees the teams dedicated to ensuring our students receive the active support they need and that our provision remains accessible and inclusive. A qualified SENCO, Amy holds a master’s degree in Sociological Research, with a focus on anti-social behaviour and harm reduction. She works closely with external stakeholders and partners to ensure our college’s work meets the needs of the communities we serve.

In her role as Senior Mental Health Lead, Amy understands the challenges students face in relation to their emotional wellbeing and how this can impact their learning. The college-wide teams take a proactive, responsive approach, working collaboratively across the city to provide meaningful learning experiences for all.

Kaye has been with Milton Keynes College Group for over 20 years, during which she has held various roles that have deepened her understanding of both the organisation and the field of Further Education. Her experience includes teaching and assessing in curriculum development, managing community projects, and leading the Business Development and Professional Qualifications teams.

In 2019, Kaye took on the responsibility for the College’s admissions and bursary processes. Currently, she oversees funding and compliance, data management, reporting, and the exams and reception functions. Her teams play a crucial role in supporting our learners throughout their journey with us at the College Group.