Deputy Head Pastoral & Upper School, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Teacher of Geography & Environmental Systems & Societies
David was born and raised in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and brings a wealth of international experience to his role as Deputy Head (Pastoral and Upper School) at The English College in Prague. He earned a BSc in Geography from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, followed by a PGCE from the University of Gloucestershire. David later completed his NPQSL (National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership) at Edge Hill University.
Before joining ECP, David spent time living in Rome, Italy, Whistler, Canada, and the UK, where he held various teaching and leadership roles. Most recently, he was Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for the Lower School at St George’s British International School in Rome. He also taught in schools across the UK, taking on diverse roles such as Head of Faculty, Head of Geography, and Gifted and Talented Coordinator, all while fostering a deep love for education and student development.
David is deeply committed to developing strong school communities, empowering student voices, and promoting learning beyond the classroom. He believes in a proactive approach to pastoral care, ensuring that every student feels supported both academically and personally.
In his free time, David enjoys traveling and is looking forward to exploring the Czech Republic. An avid adventurer, he is a keen scuba diver and certified Divemaster, as well as a passionate skier, having spent a ski season in Whistler, Canada. He also enjoys hiking and the opportunity to engage with nature, bringing his adventurous spirit into his leadership at ECP.
David’s diverse background and personal interests enrich his approach to education, helping students and staff alike thrive in a supportive and dynamic school environment.
The Open Day at the English College in Prague is a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the atmosphere at the school. Prospective families will get a student guide who will show them around and take them to classrooms where they can observe lessons. Parents have an opportunity to meet the Headmaster, Dr Nigel Brown, the SLT team, teachers and the Admissions Registrar, Mrs Stanislava Jirešová, who coordinates the admissions procedure and can offer detailed information about the entrance exams. The Open Day takes place at our temporary premises at ZŠ Elektra (Sousedíkova 1044/8).
Open Day Programme for 13th November 2024:
14.00
Doors open
14.00 – 16.00
ongoing
Individual tours with student guides, observing lessons
As our Open Days are an important part of our school year, we like to take photographs during the afternoon and may use some of them in our displays or in marketing and other publications. If you do not wish you or your child to appear in our photographs, please tell our photographer and we shall, of course, respect your wishes.
Here at the English College in Prague we are celebrating our 30th anniversary. It was in September 1994 that the iconic Blue Doors opened to the first 117 students for the very first time.
ECP’s origins go back to the fall of communism in 1989 and to a meeting at Prague Castle in February 1990. UK Foreign Office Minister, William Waldegrave, together with the British Ambassador Laurence O’Keeffe and Foreign Office official, Ann Lewis, were talking to President Havel about how the UK could help the newly democratic Czechoslovakia.
President Havel’s press spokesman told them about the old Prague English Grammar School. President Havel said that it had been the school that all young people in his day had wanted to attend. It opened in 1927 to provide an education in English for Prague children, but it was closed down by the Nazis. Although it opened again briefly after the war, it was closed down for good by the Communist regime.
Ann Lewis was intrigued by the possibility of opening a school in Prague to once again, after 40 years of communism, provide a liberal, democratic education in English. She joined forces with Martyn Bond, who ran the European Parliament Office in London. Together with a committee that included the first Chairman of Governors Lord Holme, they spent the next four years raising the money, finding the premises and recruiting the first Headmaster, Hubert Ward. It was he who persuaded Czech parents to take a leap of faith by sending their children to this new, untried educational establishment. The very first parents to enrol their child were the eminent late Czech economist Michael Mejstřík and his wife.
Michal Mejstřik and his wife enrolling their son as the English College in Prague’s first student, with Hubert Ward, our first Headmaster.
ECP’s Principles
Václav Havel was supportive of the project and agreed to become the College’s Czech Patron. He asked HRH The Prince of Wales to become the British Patron and now, thirty years later, The Prince of Wales is His Majesty King Charles III. The College was delighted when he agreed to continue as Patron in recognition of its standing as a widely respected educational institution that has helped some 1700 young people to graduate with the International Baccalaureate, opening doors to prestigious universities around the world.
But although many ECP alumni choose to study abroad, many remain in Prague. One of them, Ema Srnková, who graduated in 2022, is now studying Law at Charles University.
As a Year 4 student, she was present at Founders’ Day in 2019 for the College’s 25th anniversary celebrations. This is what she wrote at the time, recalling what had inspired our Founders to establish the English College.
“So what makes the ECP different, what is it based on? Our teaching methods are based on discussion and critical thinking, just as they were all those years ago, and liberal and international attitudes and values are supported. Mutual communication among pupils, parents and employees is an integral part of school life. The English College is a solid community of like-minded people who value humanity and tolerance. I strongly hope that every student will absorb these principles after six years of study, and in the future, each of us will at least try to unite today’s polarised world. May we, in the next twenty-five years, return to school and say that we have lived our lives through the philosophy that the teachers instilled in us. Think critically. Don’t be afraid to express your own opinion, but listen patiently to others. Help others. Do not tolerate unfair treatment. Studying at the ECP gave me a new perspective on education. At other schools I did not find teachers so enthusiastic, experienced and willing to help. The 25th anniversary reminded me of what the school was trying to give us in addition to education and how I had to behave in order to represent it with dignity. To take full advantage of the development opportunities it offers me. Not only for academic advancement, but also for growth as a human being.”
It is these principles that have provided the foundation for an ECP education over the past three decades. Throughout that time, we have been grateful for the ongoing support we have received from successive British Ambassadors, ever since Laurence O’Keeffe attended that first meeting with President Havel at Prague Castle. Indeed, we are honoured that the former Deputy British Ambassador, Denis Keefe, is now our Chairman of Governors. We were therefore delighted that the current British Ambassador, Matt Field OBE, sent us this message of congratulations on our 30th anniversary. We look forward to welcoming him to the College this autumn to address our Model United Nations.
Some of ECP’s MUN team members (Eileen, Simon, Alex, Annas, and I) all of whom are organising the second year of our very own ECPMUN conference, which will take place from the 11th – 13th of October, were invited to the 19th edition of GLOBSEC Think Tank (30 Aug – 1 Sep). It is an international conference where world leaders discuss pressing world issues. For us, this was a unique opportunity to learn about what is going on in the world. We could hear about various perspectives of all kinds of presidents, prime ministers, and other inspirational guest speakers and hear their views and solutions to these respective issues.
US elections
We attended over 20 sessions and presentations and got to stand and sit next to all kinds of world politicians. It was a truly incredible experience. Some of my favorite sessions focused on the US elections and their impact on the world. One of the interesting side sessions was titled “Shifting Transatlantic Attitudes in an Election Year.” During this session, we quite literally sat around one table with, for example, the Former Minister of Defense of the Netherlands or the President of the Chicago Council & Former US Ambassador to NATO. I learned so much about the impact of the US elections and the vital importance of fostering strong transatlantic relationships between the US and Europe in order to build a safer and more peaceful world.
Human Rights
Additionally, the food at the conference was delicious, and during one of the snack breaks, we also got the chance to talk to the former Tibetan Prime Minister, Mr. Lobsang Sangay. This was one of many pinch-me moments for me during the three days at GLOBSEC. Amongst all of the fascinating sessions we attended, there was one more that stood out to me: GLOBSEC Chat. It focused on how to face and eliminate terrorism in Africa. It was led by Mr. Ahmed Abdi, Member of Parliament & Secretary of the Somali Defence Committee. As a result, I learned a lot about EU’s involvement in fighting terrorist groups and protecting vital infrastructure across Africa, but mainly in Somalia.
I’m very passionate about Human Rights. For this reason, I love to debate in committees focusing on Human Rights issues, which are almost always related to Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, I was excited to learn something new and hear a real politician from the region talk about the situation there. I cannot wait to apply this knowledge in my future MUN debates.
I still cannot believe that we were able to attend such a prestigious event. As Ms. Kister said, got to “rub shoulders” with some of the most influential people in the world who are shaping and fighting for our future. I left GLOBSEC feeling more inspired to make a positive difference than ever before. I hope to become a change-maker myself one day, just like all the inspirational guest speakers we had the chance to listen to and meet.
