Stephen worked for all of his employed professional life until April 2024 in the teaching profession. This included being an economics teacher, headteacher of a school in Cambridgeshire and Chief Executive of a Multi Academy Trust with schools largely based in Cambridgeshire. He was President of the Chartered College of Teaching and held several advisory roles with the Department of Education. He received a CBE and an honorary doctorate (Anglia Ruskin University) for his services to education. He is now working to support some schools in China and some schools and community projects in Uganda. He continues to support the work and development of the Chartered College.
