Stephen taught in primary and secondary schools in Leeds before coming into teacher education in 1980. He has broad experience of management in the School of Education, having run the University inservice teacher training programmes, the undergraduate primary teacher training degree and set up the partnership scheme with local primary schools. Until 2006 he was Head of the Department of Education and Childhood Studies in which he developed the successful undergraduate Education Studies programme and Foundation Degrees.

He has recently edited two books on Education Studies and is joint author of a book on education policy. He is a founding member of the British Education Studies Association (BESA), was Chair in 2006-07 and organised the 2007 Annual Conference of the Association at Bath Spa University. His previous publications include books on the Primary Curriculum and the teaching of Primary School music as well as papers on race in teacher education and on partnerships between schools and universities in teacher training.

His most recent research is a doctoral thesis is on the emergence of Education Studies as a new university subject in England and Wales.