Summary

David Mather is Associate Head of School (Students) in the School of Education, Languages and Linguistics at the Ç¿¼éÊÓƵ. He provides strategic and operational leadership for student experience, recruitment, retention and leads on teaching, learning and assessment across the School.

David is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Management and formerly led the MSc programme and the Senior Leader Degree Apprenticeship. He has also supported Initial Teacher Training across a range of programmes.

His work is grounded in a sustained commitment to the UK military and veteran communities. He leads research and engagement activity exploring how Initial Teacher Education can support military-to-civilian transition and contributes to national discourse on the educational experiences of service children. He has contributed to the work of the Service Children’s Progression Alliance and is Principal Investigator on the Military Teacher Education Pathway project.

In addition, David comments on and contributes to national and international work relating to education inclusion, cultural transmission and equitable access. His wider publications explore relational pedagogies, workplace culture and support for learners with additional needs. He contributed to Who Am I Teaching? (2025), offering insights into neurodiversity and relational practice in primary education.

David is currently completing his doctoral thesis, which examines how military service is repositioned within civilian occupations through teacher education.