Mike Kilbride MBE leaves a lasting legacy at Birkenhead Sixth Form College

Birkenhead Sixth Form College marked the end of term by celebrating the remarkable leadership and lasting legacy of Mike Kilbride MBE, who concluded 18 years as Principal to focus on his role as Chief Executive Officer of The BePART Trust.

As staff gathered to mark the occasion, they reflected on the extraordinary impact Mike had made on the College, its students and its staff. Their messages spoke of a leader who believed in others before they believed in themselves, who created opportunities for staff and students alike, and who remained true to his educational philosophy, never being distracted by passing educational trends.

The story of Birkenhead Sixth Form College over the past 18 years cannot be told without Mike's name at its heart.

When Mike joined the College in 2008, it faced significant challenges. Through courageous leadership, unwavering ambition and an uncompromising belief in what students could achieve, he led one of the most remarkable transformations in further education. Under his leadership, the College progressed from special measures to achieving Ofsted Outstanding - not once, but twice. The College also received national and regional recognition through a series of prestigious awards, cementing its reputation as one of the country's leading sixth form colleges.

Mike's belief that a student's starting point should never determine their destination shaped every aspect of the College's success. Student outcomes improved dramatically during his tenure without the College needing to raise its entry requirements, demonstrating what can be achieved through high expectations, outstanding teaching and purposeful hard work.

His commitment to social mobility is deeply personal. Having experienced first-hand the transformative power of education and teachers who believed in him, Mike dedicated his career to ensuring others were given the same opportunities. This lifelong commitment was recognised with the award of an MBE for Services to Education.

With the College in a strong position for the future, leadership has now passed to Rob Myatt, who worked alongside Mike as Deputy Principal for the previous nine years. Reflecting on Mike’s contribution, new Principal Rob Myatt said:

"Mike has had a transformative impact on Birkenhead Sixth Form College, and his leadership has been instrumental in the College's success over the past eighteen years. Those achievements reflect not only Mike's vision and determination, but also the commitment of a strong leadership team and dedicated staff who have worked together to transform the lives of thousands of young people.

It has been a privilege to work alongside Mike as his Deputy Principal for almost a decade. While our working relationship will evolve as he focuses on leading The BePART Trust as CEO, I look forward to continuing to work closely with him as we build on the College's success and continue to provide outstanding opportunities for the young people we serve."

Eighteen years after arriving at a College facing significant challenges, Mike leaves behind a thriving, Outstanding sixth form college recognised nationally for its excellence and, more importantly, for the lives it has transformed.

His legacy is found not only in outstanding inspection outcomes and exceptional results, but in the thousands of lives changed, the opportunities created, the staff developed and the enduring belief that education can transform futures.

While colleagues reflected on Mike's legacy, Mike was quick to pay tribute to the staff who had shared the journey with him:

"Leading Birkenhead Sixth Form College has been the greatest privilege of my career. Looking back over the past eighteen years, I feel incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together—not because of awards or inspection outcomes, but because of the lives that have been changed through education.

I have always believed that a young person's starting point should never define their future. When you create the right culture, surround yourself with great staff who care deeply about their students, and remain focused on doing the right things every day, remarkable outcomes follow.

I leave knowing the College is in an incredibly strong position and with complete confidence in Rob and the exceptional staff who will continue to build on everything we have achieved together. I will always be grateful to have been part of the story of Birkenhead Sixth Form College, and I look forward to seeing the next chapter unfold."