Keziah Allen’s MacIntyre story starts somewhere unexpected: our coffee shop in Milton Keynes.
At 16, she followed her sister into a Saturday job there. It didn’t last long: school finished and she moved into full-time work, but the experience stayed with her.
Over the next few years, Keziah tried a mix of roles, from a call centre to raising a family, before becoming a teaching assistant in a mainstream school supporting pupils with special educational needs. She loved the work, but wanted more: more support, and a more meaningful approach.
So when she saw a role at MacIntyre advertised, she remembered how it had felt as a teenager: supportive, fair, different. She applied.
She joined as a Community Teaching Facilitator (CTF), working directly with young people day-to-day. Over six years in Milton Keynes, she supported learners of college age who are autistic or have learning disabilities, building strong one-to-one relationships.
Then came the chance to step into a new role: Programme Coordinator.
At the heart of that role is MacIntyre No Limits™, a post-16 education programme that looks very different from a traditional college. There are no standard classrooms or fixed timetables. Each learner has a bespoke programme built around their interests, goals and everyday life, with much of the learning happening out in the community.
CTFs work closely with learners to support that day-to-day development. Programme Coordinators design those programmes, lead teams, and make sure each one really works for the individual. Keziah says:
It’s the closest thing to a teacher role, but it’s much more personalised than that.
She thrived in the position, gaining confidence in leadership and a wider understanding of how to shape meaningful education. But when the secondment ended, there wasn’t a permanent role available.
It’s something to be realistic about, secondments are a chance to grow, not a guarantee. The right opportunity will come.
And it did. Keziah is now a Programme Coordinator in Abingdon, working in partnership with Abingdon College.
For her, what sets No Limits apart is the transformation she sees in learners.
Some young people are used to having decisions made for them. They can become quite passive. Then you start giving them real choice, really listening, and you see them come to life. That’s the magic.
Learning is built around each individual. A passion for Formula 1 might shape a maths session. An interest in music might become the focus for developing new skills. Even staff and learners are matched where possible by shared interests and strengths.
It’s also a place where difference is valued among staff as well as learners. Keziah says:
We’ve got team members who are neurodivergent themselves, that lived experience really matters. It helps us understand and connect in a deeper way.
Eight years on “this time round” Keziah is still building on that early experience of feeling supported and valued.
Outside work, she’s raising three children and studying for her Level 5 Certificate of Education at Bedford College, while helping the next generation find their voice, their choices, and their place in the world.
If MacIntyre sounds like somewhere you could build a career, check out our Careers page, or contact our central [javascript protected email address].
