David Kershaw has dedicated the last 60 years to education. His enduring and committed leadership style has helped to transform schools across the North of England and the West Midlands, creating equal opportunities for young people over six decades.
At the age of 82, David recently stepped down as CEO of Central Academies Trust in Birmingham to become interim CEO of Inspiring Lives Education Trust, a new multi-academy trust based in the Midlands. Embracing the lifelong learning approach that he lives by, he continues to embrace changes in education to ensure the young people under his leadership receive the best support.
An unconventional start
After failing his eleven-plus, he left school without qualifications to pursue football at Huddersfield Town A.F.C. When manager Bill Shankly said he wouldn’t make the first team, he highlighted David’s leadership skills and suggested teaching instead.
Incredibly, Bill Shankly went on to help fund David’s teacher training; with David vowing to create as many opportunities for young people as he could, just as Shankly had done for him.
Striving for success
Over the years, David has transformed four schools across Coventry, Leicester and Bradford, playing a pivotal role in helping them out of special measures. Despite attempting to retire a number of times, David has continued to answer his vocational calling.
At the age of 75, and after spending more than 20 years as a school improvement officer and Cabinet Lead for Education with Coventry Local Authority, he was asked by the government to take the position of CEO at a new MAT, Central Academies Trust in Birmingham. Lordswood was one of the poorest performing schools within the City. With David at the helm, the school underwent a massive cultural shift among staff and students, as well as a huge redevelopment of the school building. Through his leadership, pupils achieved results that placed the school in the top 15% for progress made, was graded ‘Good’ by Ofsted in 2022, and is now a school of choice for local parents.
The journey continues
In January 2024 David took on a new role, becoming Interim CEO for Inspiring Lives Education Trust, a mixed MAT aiming to provide a destination for both faith schools and community schools across England. In his part-time position, he continues to lay the foundations for the long-term success of the trust, even though its progress is ‘on hold’ with the DfE at the moment. True to his approach over the last six decades, David continues to inspire all those around him. Regardless of his seniority, his approach to constant communication and his physical presence, means that both staff and students know that, alongside an expectation for hard work and high expectations, David is beside them – and together they can achieve the highest reward.
The secret to success
When asked how he has managed to consistently and successfully transform failing schools and provide new opportunities for students, David shared his core values.
“My core values are underpinned by a down-to-earth approach best practice. At the heart of this is caring, compassionate approach that prioritises the well-being of both colleagues and students. I believe in inclusive leadership, so listening to colleagues and students is hugely important, alongside a kindly and relentless focus on high expectations for teaching colleagues and support staff”.
These values are brought to life through core practices designed to create a supportive and enriching educational experience. A key focus is on developing behaviour support systems that are clear, supportive, and consistently applied, ensuring a safe and structured environment for all. Additionally, David ensures the curriculum is crafted to be broad, challenging, and creative, enabling students to experience academic rigor, personal growth, and character with a particular emphasis on the Performing Arts and Physical and Outdoor Education.
Another fundamental is the implementation of a creative and well-structured whole-school literacy programme, accessible to all students, every day. Literacy serves as a cornerstone of education, and this approach ensures that it remains a daily priority. While student education is prioritised so too is the professional development of staff, with a continuous professional development programme is created for all teaching and support staff.
David says: “A key priority for me is to ensure educators are equipped to thrive in their roles, fostering a culture of lifelong learning and professional excellence. But education doesn’t just stop with educators, it is also the responsibility of the whole community”. For this reason, David places a strong emphasis on building partnerships with other schools, community groups, local businesses, parents, and governors. These partnerships are designed to cultivate a sense of collective responsibility, creating a shared vision for success and enabling the school community to thrive collaboratively.
Results and recognition
David’s undeniable impact upon students has not only been recognised by multiple Ofsted inspection grades but also by royal decree as he was awarded a CBE for services to education in 2007. Those who have worked with David throughout the years describe him as someone who epitomises the transformative power of education, shaping the educational landscape for the better.
The awards judges reflected: “David’s energy and work ethic is legendary. At a time of life when many would have retired some 20 years previously, he is often working a 12-hour day. Throughout his 60 years in education, David has indeed been inspiring lives.”
