Teacher and adviser conference 2024

David has been working in the independent sector for over 15 years, including holding roles as Head of Business Studies and as a senior sixth form tutor. He moved to Bristol Grammar School (BGS) at the start of 2017 to take on an exciting new full-time role as Head of Higher Education and Careers – now Future Pathways. BGS is a large mixed independent school which sees over 150 students apply to UK universities each year, as well as other exciting pathways in the UK and further afield. David works with a team of over 25 sixth form tutors to support students’ aspirations, regularly running lecture sessions, speaker visits and other events to inform and advise young people and their families. Beyond managing the UCAS process, David supports applications to higher education destinations globally, with recent leavers going to study in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan and more. Interest in and applications for apprenticeships are ever-growing too, and David’s work across the school with younger pupils is very much focused on raising awareness of lesser-known pathways and finding the right fit.

David is a member of UCAS’s Adviser Advisory Group (AdAG) and has been Chair since June 2023. The group represents the views of teachers, advisers and other UCAS correspondents from across the UK and is influential in offering advice and guidance on current and future UCAS products as well as potential operational challenges. As a critical friend to UCAS David has been involved with several recent consultations and developments, including Reference Reform, the January ECD and development to the UCAS Hub, provides appropriate challenge where warranted and also acts as a champion of change which will ultimately better serve students and advisers. He has represented advisers at the recent UCAS Annual Provider Update and was also part of Universities UK’s Fair Admissions Review in 2020.