Staff Profile - Mr David Corran

Staff Profile Mr David Corran Deputy Head

King Edward’s was delighted to welcome Mr David Corran as Deputy Head last September. Mr Corran brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked at some of the UK’s most prestigious independent schools including Radley, Millfield, Charterhouse and St Edward’s Oxford.

Mr Stephen Pugh (L) and Mr David Corran (R) at Admissions Day 2019

After graduating with an MA in Modern Languages from Christ Church Oxford, Mr Corran trained as an accountant but moved into teaching after receiving an invitation from his former Housemaster, who was then the Headmaster of Peterhouse in Zimbabwe, to establish the school’s Spanish department. “It was definitely a leap of faith, but I loved it and knew immediately that this was what I wanted to do”, explained Mr Corran. “I enjoyed the varied life of a teacher in a boarding community, being involved with drama, sport and music and the sense of community pulled me in. I got a huge amount of experience very quickly.”

Returning to the UK when the political situation in Zimbabwe deteriorated, Mr Corran joined Radley College and then St Edward’s in Oxford, where he stayed for eleven years as Boarding Housemaster, teaching alongside King Edward’s current Head Mrs Joanna Wright. “I am delighted to be working with Joanna again”.

It appears the stars were aligned just right when the Deputy Head position was advertised. “My wife happened to see a programme about vulnerable children in South London who were sent to board in Surrey, and of course that school was King Edward’s. I watched the film and I thought that the School was wonderful. It squared the circle for me as a boarding school with an important contribution to make in terms of social mobility and help for vulnerable young people.” Mrs Florence Corran, Mr Corran’s wife, is Director of Sixth Form at Sherborne in Dorset, and the couple have two daughters aged 15 and 17.

As the Designated Safeguarding Lead, pupil mental health is one of Mr Corran’s priorities. “Development of mental health and wellbeing is one of the biggest challenges facing schools today”, he explains. “We need to achieve that magic balance between supporting and validating young people’s experiences while at the same time not pathologising the normal aspects of growing up.” To date he has been impressed with how the School Community has responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, “There has been an exceptional response from staff, pupils and parents,” he says. While he’s quick to point out that the post-COVID-19 environment will create a very different school experience, he’s also optimistic about the future.

“I think the next few years at King Edward’s are going to be tremendously exciting. This is a School that has everything that it takes to be the best possible example of socially responsible boarding and day education. I’m really energised by the idea of helping that process along.”