David is the Executive Headteacher of Mayflower Community Academy and Mount Wise Community Primary School. As their names suggest, both schools have an ethos that sees community at the heart of their work.

David has built systems that have enabled teams to move through traditional metrics, such as Ofsted gradings. He has led teams who have experience of moving through Requires Improvement and onto Outstanding. This developmental work has been achieved by building models of distributed leadership. Staff are empowered to create informed approaches to learning. They are encouraged to shape their professional working conditions and become innovative thinkers. Staff are encouraged to notice what works in the classroom and share their own learning beyond the school itself. Time is allocated for staff to pause, study, research and their develop both their own ideas as well those of others.

Within both schools, well-being has become a fundamental part of decision making. Efforts to create the conditions for staff, pupils and parents to thrive as lifelong learners are made and used as a mechanism for sustaining school / community development. As an ideas person, David believes in supporting staff to test their ideas by collaborating beyond the system itself. Working creatively with other industries such as, artists, musicians, marketers and strategic thinkers has helped staff to better define their roles and gain clarity on how to create better outcomes for pupils and their families.

David believes in creating an agile team who can dynamically respond to the needs of their community. He is passionate about bringing communities together to build a better future.