Director of Learning 

Author 

Ex Executive Head 

Dave is Director of Learning for the Wellspring Academy Trust. As a former Executive Principal of SEMH Special and Alternative Provision academies, he now works regionally supporting all 29 schools in the trust.

As well as Executive Headship, Dave spent 10 years as a National Leader of Education and teaching school head. He now leads Positive Regard – the trust’s behaviour training and outreach team. Dave works nationally supporting schools with behaviour training, drawing on years of experience working with the most complex and vulnerable of children. Based on an ethos of ‘unconditional positive regard’ Dave believes schools should use relational practice to make them safe and caring places to learn.

Dave has recently been a member of the DFE’s Timpson Exclusions Review expert reference group, he is a founder member of the HeadTeachers’ Roundtable think tank and is a trustee of The Difference. He has also given evidence on alternative provision to the government’s Education Select Committee. He is currently the PRU/AP representative on ASCL National Council. He is a regular speaker at conferences and an active campaigner for educational change. His recently published book, The Kindness Principle, offers advice, guidance and expertise on making relational practice work in schools. He is an associate of Independent Thinking Ltd.