Steven J. Courtney is Professor of Sociology of Education and Director of Research at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester. Steven’s research explores areas including education policy, system leadership, charisma, structural reform, depoliticisation and education privatisation, particularly in relation to the identities and practices of those constructed as educational leaders. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Critical Studies in Education and co-convenor of the MIE research group, Critical Education Leadership and Policy (CELP). His most recent book (2021) is ‘Understanding educational leadership: Critical perspectives and approaches’ with Bloomsbury, co-edited with Gunter, Niesche and Trujillo. He is currently investigating former school leaders’ experiences of leaving the headship.