Milton Keynes College Impact Report 2025-26

Milton Keynes College Group staff volunteering at Haversham Village School for College in the Community Day 2026.

Impact Report 25/26

Foreword Welcome to our Community Impact Report for 2026.

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

2

Sally Alexander CEO and Group Principal

As a civic anchor institution in Milton Keynes, we are deeply committed to social impact and prioritise building partnerships that foster a sense of pride, belonging and support for all, contributing to Fairer Futures for the community. As we look back on the exciting projects and opportunities delivered this year, we reaffirm our commitment to making our College Group a welcoming and inclusive environment where all learners and staff feel they belong.

After becoming White Ribbon accredited last year, this year’s White Ribbon Day saw us take part in an employers’ breakfast event hosted at YMCA Milton Keynes, as well as our Performing Arts students delivering a powerful performance on the year’s theme of ‘We Speak Up’ to staff, students, friends and family. From wellness walks to interactive workshops and talks, providing opportunities for our students to discuss health, equality and social issues helps our students to feel empowered. This year, we’ve pledged our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion through the launch of our new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) pledge.

As one of the first colleges to sign the Association of Colleges’ ED&I Charter in April 2024, this closely aligns with our principle of Fairer Futures, promoting fairness, equality, diversity and inclusion.

At Milton Keynes College Group, working continuously in partnership with our local communities remains one of our key priorities. Our fourth College in the Community Day on 25th March was once again a great success. Our students and staff engaged in over 60 activities across Milton Keynes and Bletchley, rolling up their sleeves and giving back to the community. Right across the city from Milton Keynes University Hospital to Moorland Primary School and YMCA Milton Keynes, our colleagues and students have once again done us proud.

Since the launch of our new Prison Education Services contract in October, our prison education network has achieved a number of exciting and significant outcomes. We are immensely proud to continue as one of the largest providers of prison education services in the country. Our provision at HMP Fosse Way and HMP Send has been awarded an Ofsted rating of ‘Good’, reflecting the quality and impact of our work.

In addition, our annual involvement in the Koestler Awards delivered outstanding success, with prison learners receiving awards for an impressive 551 entries.

We are committed to delivering Fairer Futures, not only for our learners and wider communities, but also for our environment. We are proud to have launched our first annual report on our Climate Action Plan since launching this last January, detailing our progress on the practical roadmap for driving positive environmental and operational change across the College Group. As part of the national Green Careers Week, staff from the College ran a project titled ‘Green Skills Industry Interviews’, where local industry experts took part in short interviews with our students to find out more about their sustainability challenges and careers.

I would like to extend a big thank you to all our colleagues, learners, employers and partners — we could not have done this without you. To continue delivering Fairer Futures for our communities, we must work together to bring about tangible and long-lasting impact.

Contents MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

3

Our impact goals 4 Our impact highlights 25/26

5

Our impact progress 6-14 Impact in action 15-19

Our Impact Aims MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

4

1

Drive aspirational, innovative and student-focussed educational experiences that have a positive impact on social mobility.

2

Deliver the skills employers need by developing meaningful partnerships to grow our influence and create opportunities.

3

Achieve and maintain financial and operational sustainability that contributes to economic growth.

4

Promote and live fairness, equality, diversity and inclusion to build a fairer society to live and work in.

Impact Highlights April 2025

June 2025

October 2025

Planet Earth Games MK College Group’s debut in the national Planet Earth Games competition sparked a wide range of activities across both campuses and our prison education network. Milton Keynes College Group ranked 12th out of 28 colleges overall.

Fosse Way graded ‘Good’ Teachers and managers from Milton Keynes College Group were graded ‘Good’ by Ofsted for their work with offenders at HMP Fosse Way – one of only 7% of establishments across England to obtain the grade.

New Prison Education Services (PES) contract The government announced the new Prison Education Services (PES) contracts and Milton Keynes College Group was given the responsibility for twenty-nine state sector prisons. The result of the tender means the College Group remains one of the largest providers of such education services in the country, with almost a third of the prison estate coming under its remit.

May 2025

September 2025

October 2025

November 2025

Students of the Year Awards The Students of the Year event was celebrated at Silverstone, with twenty-one students, including a prison learner, winning awards for their achievements at the College.

Investors in Diversity Gold MK College Group was awarded the “Investors in Diversity Gold” accreditation by the National Centre for Diversity. The College Group has gone on to fully achieve all ten of the organisational goals.

Menopause accreditation MK College Group was awarded the Menopause Friendly Accreditation by Menopause Friendly UK, showing that it is actively supporting women at work experiencing menopause through embedding awareness right across the organisation.

Civic University Agreement Led by Milton Keynes College, The Open University and Cranfield University, the new Civic Agreement seeks to foster deeper collaboration between the signatory organisations for the benefit of the city and future generations.

Aim One MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

6

Drive aspirational, innovative and student-focussed educational experiences that have a positive impact on social mobility.

At MK College Group, we strive to make sure that all our learners feel supported in achieving their goals as well as safe among their peers. Continuing from our accreditation with White Ribbon UK, the leading charity tackling men’s violence against women, the College celebrated White Ribbon Day in November to spread awareness around men’s violence against women and girls, with staff and students pledging their commitment to creating a safe environment.

This year brought exciting new opportunities for our campus learners. With successes across curriculum areas, the Milton Keynes College Football Academy team won the Association of Colleges National Plate in May and both men and women’s regional football tournaments. Meanwhile, Futures Academy, formerly Skills Academy, has had an eventful third year with increased numbers of students trying vocational courses and working with Action 4 Youth during our College in the Community Day. With a range of pop-ups across campuses focussed on health, wellbeing and safety - including the Internet Safety Days and mobility assessment focus groups - students have had the opportunity to participate in conversations, access resources and build knowledge.

7,680

learners across the Chaffron Way and Bletchley campuses.

White Ribbon performance

561

Read more, scan the QR code.

UCAS applications were supported by MK College.

22% had received at least one unconditional offer by early February.

378

learners who had previously achieved an Entry Level or Level 1 qualification, have progressed to a Level 3 qualification with us since 2020. (An increase of 148 in the last year.)

599

200 learners engaged in our Introduction to ESOL programmes.

HMP Fosse Way Ofsted ’Good’ Read more, scan the QR code.

students enrolled in the Futures Academy in October 2025, a 28% increase from the previous year.

Aim One MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

7

Delivering education in 30 prisons across England, MK College Group believes in the power of rehabilitation through education.

The new prison education service contract has brought us eight new prisons in the South West. HMP Fosse Way, which approaches its third year in operation this May, has achieved the Ofsted grade ‘Good’ for their work with prison learners – an incredible achievement for all at HMP Fosse Way. We have encouraged young people’s interest in education through the Big Yellow Bus week which toured local schools to introduce MK College to prospective students – as well as through the STEMx campaign, which is inspiring an increasing number of pupils across the region.

Meanwhile, learners at HMP Woodhill ran a book drive for the learners’ children, in a special literacy initiative to promote reading, learning and family connection.

During the 2025/26 academic year to date, community‑based Introduction to ESOL programmes have supported over 200 learners across Milton Keynes, delivered in partnership with local community groups and Family Centres in areas including Bletchley, Fishermead, Wolverton, Coffee Hall, Conniburrow and Furzton. Learning in trusted community settings has reduced barriers to participation and supported adults with little or no English to develop practical language skills for everyday life, promote confidence, wellbeing and social integration.

Fosse Way Bullingdon

Woodhill Grendon

Long Lartin

Spring Hill

Eastwood Park Bristol Erlestoke

Swaleside

Coldingley Send

Downview

Winchester Ford Portland

Elmley Maidstone

East Sutton Park

The Verne

Dartmoor Channings Wood

Stanford Hill

Huntercombe

Guys Marsh Exeter

Rochester

Aylesbury Leyhill

Lewes

Isle of Wight

NEW PRISONS EDUCATION SERVICES MAP Alongside English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision, informal ‘Tea and Tech’ sessions have supported digital inclusion, particularly for older learners, building essential digital skills and confidence. Pilot programmes including Little Learners Art Lab and Nutrition and Health courses for older adults have further supported family engagement, wellbeing and independent living, with plans to expand delivery.

Strong T Levels performance Read more, scan the QR code.

MK College Football Academy team celebrating their win at the Association of Colleges National Plate

Aim Two MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

8

Deliver the skills employers need by developing meaningful partnerships to grow our influence and create opportunities.

The 2025/26 academic year has seen a deeper sense of local collaboration with both new and longstanding partners, and increased opportunities for local learning.

Addressing the local and national skills gaps is at the forefront of our mission at MK College Group. Collaboration with our partners is vital for building a functioning system that provides students with education that is valuable and practically beneficial. This year, we partnered with Santander, The Open University and Milton Keynes City Council on SkillUp:MK, a new initiative to provide training courses to help people in the city learn new skills.

In January, our Skills Summit at MK Dons Stadium brought together national and regional voices to explore how we can meet growing skills needs and support economic growth, culminating in the launch of the Skills Blueprint which aligns our curriculum with employer needs.

New Civic University Agreement for Milton Keynes set to drive skills growth and innovation across the city.

Achieved for eighth year, building on digital learning specialisms.

56 colleagues are MIE experts – the second highest figure in the UK.

4,061

634

students aged 9-14 participated in the STEMx learning programme by February 2026.

was the peak of our apprenticeship numbers in the past year.

77%

1,000+

STEMx attendees now considering a career in a STEM field.

Year 11 students visited the Yellow Bus.

Read more, scan the QR code.

MK College Group, Santander, The Open University and the City Council joined forces to provide training courses to help people in the city learn new skills.

Read more, scan the QR code.

Aim Two Pit Wall Coding Challenge using Lego Spike Prime at MK Tech Week launch.

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

9

Part of the effort of fostering deeper collaboration among local institutions is the new Civic University Agreement, led by MK College Group, The Open University and Cranfield University, to drive skills growth and innovation along the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

Apprentices visited Downing Street to celebrate 75 years of Formula 1.

Prioritising green skills for a more sustainable future, the College Group works closely with Santander to update local electricians’ expertise in installing energy storage systems, electric car charge points and solar panels, all taught at our Green Skills Centre at the Chaffron Way campus.

Read more, scan the QR code.

Apprenticeship graduates celebrated their success in February 2026.

We strive to include our students in important conversations, from running student-centred focus groups with our governors to our student union officers taking part in a reverse mentorship programme to support their personal development and build their social and vocational skills.

Our STEMx initiative, in collaboration with Oracle Red Bull Racing, continues grow while promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) focussed careers to pupils, inspiring young people to pursue education in science and engineering. This was supported by our participation in the MK Innovates STEM Festival to encourage more women and girls into STEM.

Group Director for Curriculum and Pedagogy, Maria Bowness, won a Women Leaders Award.

Read more, scan the QR code.

Aim Two MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

10

We were also delighted to see Toby Collins, one of our Engineering students, invited to the Squad UK selection event following a silver medal win at WorldSkills UK’s national finals in November.

Milton Keynes College was once again proudly represented at the 2025 Koestler Awards, which this year centred around the inspiring theme ‘Wings’.

The submitted works spanned a wide range of disciplines, showcasing the breadth of creativity within our learning community. Categories included creative arts, music, sculpture, ceramics, digital media and film, poetry, literature, needlecraft, woodwork, and drama.

College statistics show prison education services have an enviable record. We have engaged with 12,538 learners, with 26,406 individual course starts across a multitude of courses such as Functional Skills, IT, Construction, Catering, Barbering, Business, Employability, Creative (Arts, Drama and Music etc.), Wellbeing and Personal Development.

Prison learners celebrate creativity and remembrance.

Prison Koestler Awards results

72 Bronze

551 entries

awards

44 Silver

Commended

235

29 Gold

117 Highly

14 Platinum

Commended

Tutors with learners’ artwork at HMP Long Lartin.

awards

We have engaged with

12,538 offender learners.

26,406 individual course starts.

Engineering student Toby Collins won silver at the WorldSkills UK nationals.

Aim Three MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

11

Achieve and maintain financial and operational sustainability that contributes to economic growth.

MK College Group has taken a phased approach to growth, with the introduction of our A Level programme in September 2024 significantly expanding opportunities for increasing numbers of young people in Milton Keynes and Bletchley.

We have received strong funding to reinvest, making us more sustainable as an organisation. Receiving £6.1m from Milton Keynes City Council has allowed us to continue providing excellent education and training to meet the needs of growing industries.

Phase two continues the development work of our estate by decarbonising in line with the city’s sustainability goals.

Following funding from Salix and the Carbon Offset Fund in 2025, work began for the replacement of gas boilers for air source heat pumps at the main Bletchley campus in July 2026, contributing to the College Group’s heat decarbonisation strategy.

£6.1 million invested by Milton Keynes City Council for campus expansions at the College.

3,853 16–18 year-olds studying at the College, a 41% increase over the past four years.

17% reduction in sales of water bottles secured following the launch of our Refill campaign in September.

£6.1m investment from Milton Keynes City Council allowed MK College to build new learning spaces to accommodate the rising student numbers.

Read the story, scan the QR code.

MK College Group and Santander collaborated to provide bursaries to electricians to upskill at MK College’s Green Skills Centre.

Read the story, scan the QR code.

Aim Three MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

12

We have increased student capacity by 364 students and have built additional spaces including motor vehicle workshops and new classrooms across our Chaffron Way and Bletchley campuses.

Following the launch of our Climate Action Plan in January 2024, we have introduced refilling stations and reusable water bottles, which has reduced the number of single-use plastic bottles on campus.

Our debut in the Planet Earth Games, a national sustainability competition, sparked a range of activities across our campuses and prison education network.

16

College in the Community Day projects that contribute towards United Nation’s ‘Life on Land’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Read more, scan the QR code.

MK College apprentices working with regional employers to help with the construction of new homes across Milton Keynes and Bedford.

Read more, scan the QR code.

MK College launched a refill campaign to promote the use of reusable water bottles.

Read more, scan the QR code.

Discover the first Climate Action Plan Progress Report here.

Aim Four MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

13

Promote and live fairness, equality, diversity and inclusion to build a fairer society to live and work in.

At MK College Group, we are very proud of our employee networks. Our existing networks were complemented by three new networks: an Armed Forces network, a Carers network and a Planet network. Meanwhile, our Student Commissioners for Racial Justice represent their peers and work with stakeholders locally and nationally and with our wider communities to develop recommendations for action to tackle racial injustice.

This year marks our first year of voluntary disability pay gap reporting, a year ahead of compulsory reporting requirements. Our pay gap for disability is lower than anything that is currently published nationally by the Office for National Statistics.

This year has also seen the launch of a new ED&I strategy, focussed on decreasing pay gaps, ensuring equitable outcomes for our learners, improving inclusive spaces and strengthening a culture of belonging. A group of our students are part of Leaders Unlocked’s national research project focussed on racial injustice. In the autumn, we launched The Space, a quiet safe place on campuses where students can relax, connect and participate in student activities.

85% + of College Group employees have shared their personal disability information.

MK College named 10th most inclusive workplace in the UK Read more, scan the QR code.

£5,000 is the budget for the Student Executive Committee – providing opportunities for personal growth, including training, societies and competitions.

£464,840 was awarded in bursary payments to learners so far in the 2025/26 academic year.

Investors in Diversity Gold Read more, scan the QR code.

Aim Four MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

14

Safety and wellbeing are central to campus life.

We provide training and workshops on topics including grief, hate crime and community wellbeing, alongside commissioned therapeutic support from Arthur Ellis through face‑to‑face and online sessions. In partnership with local schools and the council, 30 young people with significant barriers to accessing college took part in the trauma‑informed Rise and Shine Project in July 2025. The programme fostered belonging, resilience and aspiration through immersive wellbeing activities, with excellent engagement and positive outcomes for all participants.

Paddle boarding at the Rise and Shine summer project.

Students at the ‘Unlocking Potential’ event.

We have appointed a Healthy Relationships Advisor to provide students with a dedicated, trained point of contact for relationship‑related concerns, including boundary setting and responding to allegations of harm. This role ensures a safe, consistent and timely response, and forms part of our White Ribbon strategy.

It was also informed by student feedback through the Friends and Allies Network, focused on empowering young people to challenge problematic sexual behaviours.

Milton Keynes College and the Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce hosted employers and community partners on 27th March for Unlocking Potential: Skills and Careers for Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The session focussed on building confidence, sharing practical approaches to inclusive support, and reducing barriers to skills development and employment for young people with SEND, while strengthening collaboration across the local business community.

Staff and graduates at the December Higher Education graduation.

Community Impact In Action College in the Community Day - 25th March 2026 MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2024/25 IMPACT REPORT

15

1,200 staff and student volunteers.

60+ community activities delivered in Milton Keynes.

£328,500+

18

social value created through volunteering, donations and fundraising.

different registered charities involved.

#WeAreMK MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

16

Images from College in the Community Day on Wednesday 25th March 2026. Over 1,200 learners and staff supported more than 60 projects across a range of charities and community organisations in Milton Keynes.

Find our more about the day here.

We Deliver Fairer Futures.

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE GROUP 2025/26 IMPACT REPORT

19

“It’s been wonderful connecting with MK College for a second year. Our Year 6 pupils loved experiencing carpentry in the college workshops, and back at school your students brought so much joy supporting children from nursery to Year 5. It was a fantastic day of enrichment, leaving us with beautiful artwork, handmade signs for our allotment, and lasting memories - thank you.”

Angela Garner, Head Teacher at Moorland Primary School

Join the conversation: Get involved and have your say.

Send an email to info@mkcollege.ac.uk Call us on 01908 684444

Milton Keynes College Group Woughton Campus West Chaffron Way Leadenhall Milton Keynes MK6 5LP