David Carter

David Carter is the Executive Principal of the Cabot Learning Federation, a post he has held since September 2007. The federation consists of ten Academies in East Bristol, Bath and Weston super Mare, with six being secondary schools and four of them primary. The mission of the federation is “Collaboration for Outstanding Achievement”. The close geographical proximity of the Academies enables staff to move between the schools either for their own professional development or because the skill set they possess is needed more urgently in another setting.

David trained as a musician at the University of London and began his teaching career in 1983 as a teacher of Music. In 1997, David became headteacher of Cirencester Deer Park School in Gloucestershire, where he remained until August 2003. During this time David completed an MBA in International Educational Leadership at the University of Hull.. In 2003 David joined the DFE to spearhead the National Remodelling Team, supporting primary, special and secondary schools to introduce the workforce remodelling programme. In 2004, David was appointed to the post of Principal at John Cabot City Technology College in Bristol. Following his success at John Cabot Academy, David became one of the first National Leaders in Education and many of the Academies who are now part of the CLF did so following a support partnership work built upon the NLE model.

In the summer of 2011, the Cabot Learning Federation applied to become one of the first teaching schools in the country. This application was successful and the CLF will continue to focus its work on developing the quality of teaching and learning and leadership development across its partners in the South West. When not working, David enjoys spending time relaxing with his hobbies of sport and music as well as chasing the relentless holy grail of the Premiership as a season ticket holder at Cardiff City FC.