Our Team

Ruth Argyle

STEP Director

Ruth is the Director of SET Teacher Education Partnership bringing over nineteen years of experience in the education sector. She holds a Masters degree in Educational Leadership, a PGCE and the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). Throughout her career, Ruth has demonstrated a strong commitment to developing high-quality teacher training and fostering professional growth across the teaching community. Her leadership is guided by a deep belief in collaborative learning, educational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Jon Goulding

Lead Mentor and Assessment Only Lead Mentor

Jon trained to become a primary school teacher after volunteering in a local school while working in an accounts office. With over 20 years of experience in five schools, and a Masters degree in Educational Management from the Open University, his roles have included Foundation Stage Manager, Key Stage 2 leader, Assistant Head, Deputy Head and Headteacher. Jon now works freelance, supply teaching and writing for an educational publisher. Coupled with his experience, and additional roles as a Teaching and Learning Governor and parent, Jon sees schools and learning from a variety of perspectives. His main interest in education has always been the provision of high quality learning opportunities for both pupils and professionals, enabling a lifelong love of learning and development.

Kerry Howle

Lead Mentor

Kerry has worked as a teacher in Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire schools for fifteen years and has a wealth of experience in Key Stages One and Two. She has led and managed a range of subjects in school and worked with many trainee teachers as a 'Teacher Educator'. Since joining the team at STEP as a General Mentor and Specialism Tutor, Kerry has found working with and supporting teachers at the beginning of their career an incredibly rewarding experience. She looks forward to continuing this work as well as continuing to develop her own knowledge and understanding through undertaking study at Masters Level and continuing to develop her knowledge of different pedagogies and practices through her work in school.

Lydia Bass

Finance and Administration Officer & Lead Mentor

Lydia initially started at STEP (formerly KNSTE) as a trainee, gaining her PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), specialising in mathematics. She has since worked in a local primary school teaching predominantly Key Stage 2 and, during this time, also undertook various subject leadership roles. Lydia is delighted to be back at STEP (formerly KNSTE) and offers a unique insight into the course, having completed it herself. Lydia is passionate about supporting trainee teachers on the programme as they begin their initial teacher training and embark on their teaching careers.

Shayanne Deans

Administration Officer

Neil Phillipson

Lead Mentor

Neil has fifteen years of experience as a teacher, subject leader and consultant / trainer. He has taught at all five key stages and has been judged ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. He works in both primary and secondary settings. He is interested in exploring the broad purposes of education and matching these with high quality pedagogical approaches, with the ultimate aim of helping children to come into the 21st Century world with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes, but also with a sense of their cultural heritage and with the opportunity to make their own unique contributions to their communities.