Dr Phil Stevens has published numerous articles on a range of education topics. He has held fellowships at the London Institute of Education; Merton College, Oxford University; and the University of Tennessee. He completed a PhD at the London Institute in 1992. While holding senior positions in education, for 25 years Dr Stevens taught in schools, colleges and adult education. In the 1980s he taught in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. A keen sports enthusiast, he coached basketball, football and cricket, including a spell leading a successful Waltham Forest Schools U13 cricket team. Born in Walthamstow on the East London and Essex border, Dr Stevens enjoyed a long and successful career in education, following a five-year spell as a firefighter in his twenties at Islington and Chingford. He played Devon league cricket for 15 years and football for Leyton FC, Chingford FC and the University of Liverpool. A lifelong West Ham and Essex supporter, Dr Stevens has recently taken early retirement from his post as Vice-Principal of a Community College in Plymouth and now lives in France.