Stephen is an Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Manchester, having served until December 2024 as Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Deputy Head of the Manchester Institute of Education. With extensive experience as a teacher, senior leader and education adviser, he has worked collaboratively with schools across the West Midlands and has held governance roles in eight schools for over three decades. Stephen maintains an active scholarly profile while retaining strong professional connections to school leadership practice, underpinned by his dual expertise in academic research and hands-on educational governance.