Biography
Stephen was born in Luton and attended secondary school in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. After sixth form, Stephen studied Applied Social Science and Geography, specialising in the middle years of schooling, i.e. eight to thirteen years at Edge Hill Teacher Training College in Lancashire, gaining a BEd 2.1 honour’s degree through the University of Lancaster.
At Edge Hill, Stephen took a one year sabbatical to run the College’s community involvement programme. This included activities as diverse as holiday play schemes in Skelmersdale new town, a youth club in Kirby, a soup kitchen in Everton and a weekly disco at a secure unit for adults with learning disabilities. Stephen also trained as a volunteer for ‘Nightline’ a student helpline covering the Liverpool area.
After College, Stephen spent two years working for Aylesbury Youth
Action a voluntary youth organisation. Stephen then gained his first teaching post in a secondary school in Devon. During his time at the School he became involved in community education activities in the local area and after five years moved to his first full time adult education role at Brixham Community College.
Stephen moved to Somerset to manage the community education activities across a campus comprising an FE College, Secondary School, Youth Club, Theatre and Swimming Pool.
Stephen then gained a senior management post within the local authority responsible for both adult education and leisure. The role developed when the leisure service was established as a charitable trust and the local authority’s work based learning unit was merged with adult and community learning. Stephen spent four years managing joint skills and learning adult education service before successfully applying for the post of Principal at Southend Adult Community College.
Stephen is married with 4 children.
