Stephen Rayner

I am an Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Manchester. I was until December 2024 a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Deputy Head of the Manchester Institute of Education.

I have experience as a teacher, senior leader and education adviser, working in and with schools in the West Midlands. I have been a governor of eight schools over a period of more than 30 years. In July 2017, I completed a professional doctorate at the University of Manchester and was appointed to a part-time post as Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Programme Director of the MA Education (Teach First Leadership) programme. The title of my doctoral project was Academisation: A dynamic process of systemic change in England. I presented my thesis in Journal Format and four of the chapters have been published.

Note for those preparing applications for doctoral study

Please be aware that I retired from the University at the end of 2024 and am therefore unable to supervise further doctoral researchers or to support their applications.

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2020

Doctor of Education, University of Manchester, 2017

Master of Business Administration, University of Leicester, 1999

Master of Arts, University of Cambridge, 1974

I was a teacher in schools in England for almost thirty years and held middle- and senior-leadership positions.

In MIE, I have taught on several education-leadership programmes, including MA Educational Leadership in Practice, MA Education (Leadership in Learning), MA Educational Leadership, the Postgraduate Diploma in Education and the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education.

I have also supervised doctoral students (PhD and EdD).

Former Editorial Board member and Deputy Editor (2019-2023) of the journal Management in Education.

Member of the following organisations:

British Educational Leadership Management and Adminstration Society 

British Educational Research Association

Society for Research into Higher Education

I can be contacted by email.