Mr Shephard has vast experience in education, most recently as Assistant Director for Children's Services in a local authority, where he was Chief Education Officer. His experience in education includes secondary school teaching, senior leadership in schools, writing teaching materials and delivering courses to trainee teachers. He trained as an Ofsted inspector and has extensive experience of working at senior levels in three different local authorities. 

As an education consultant, his key focus of work has been to evaluate and improve the quality of a school's senior leadership in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for young people. Over time, he has been a member of a variety of governing bodies including a college of further education, a secondary school and a number of primary schools.