Milton Keynes College was created in 1982, when the further education colleges at Wolverton and Bletchley combined. Wolverton College's roots stem back to its association with neighbouring railway works, where it had a reputation for engineering training. The Bletchley College, founded in the early 70s, specialised in general education catering and art and design. The main "Chaffron Way" Campus in Leadenhall opened in 1985. Since its inception in 1982 it is estimated that Milton Keynes College has taught over 200,000 students. In January 2019, the College won a government contract to provide education in the majority of the long-term prisons in the country.
Present day
At present, Milton Keynes College has Campuses at Chaffron Way, in Bletchley and at the University Campus Milton Keynes in Central Milton Keynes. The college is the largest provider of further education and training in Milton Keynes, offering a varied mix of vocational courses to a diverse set of students. It also provides a range of part-time, work-based, community-based, and distance-learning courses., Milton Keynes College has approximately 3000 full-time students. The principal, Dr Mills, joined in 1990 as a lecturer in finance before becoming deputy principal.
Chaffron Way Campus
At the front of the campus stands a sculpture 'Unity', designed by Dominic Warpole. It is intended to represent the three college campuses and the staff, stakeholders and the community all coming together to support students. August 2008 saw a £3.5million extension plan on Milton Keynes College’s Chaffron Way campus. The extra saw the addition on a new learning resource centre and an IT training suite housing 70 PCs, along with a new library and a new reception area. A large outside court area to provide space for students to socialise in a secure environment was created. The Chaffron Way Campus teaches Accounting; Business & Administration; Childcare; Computing; Construction ; Engineering; English for International Students; Foundation Learning; Health & Social Care; Performing Arts; Retail; Skills; Uniformed Public Services.
Bletchley Campus
Bletchley Campus teaches Access; Art, Design & Media; Beauty & Holistic Therapy; Floristry, GCSEs & A Levels; Hairdressing; Hotel, Catering & Hospitality; Motor Vehicle & Motor Sport; Sports Science and Travel and Tourism.
Innovation & Technology Centre
The Innovation and Technology Centre opened November 2011 on the College's Chaffron Way Campus following investment in modern equipment and facilities. It enables the teaching of advanced design, prototyping, manufacturing and inspection, automation and control, renewable energy and hydraulics, alongside existing classes in engineering and construction. The building itself was part of the former Frank MarkhamCommunity School, and thus became part of the college.
Until summer 2012, the University Centre Milton Keynes was associated with the College. Since September 2012, the Centre ceased to be part of MK College and has become part of the University of Bedfordshire, re-branded as University Campus Milton Keynes
The college was graded a "Good" during the most recent inspection in May 2017 one of only 14 colleges to improve their Ofsted grade in the 2016/17 academic year. The college had previously been graded as "Requires Improvement" in an Ofsted inspection carried out in February 2014, and again in June 2015
