The Headmaster

After 20 years at The Mall School (of which 13 have been as the school’s Headmaster), and nearly 40 years working in schools, David Price has decided to retire from the teaching profession and his role as Headmaster of The Mall School, at the end of the summer term 2024.

Writing to parents, the school’s Chair of Governors, Natasha Page described Mr Price as “an exceptional Headmaster for The Mall and he will retire with the school highly recommended and enjoying an excellent reputation in the local area.”

During his headship, Mr Price has overseen many important aspects of the school’s development. As Head of Juniors, he led the improvement of the school’s early years programme, and as Headmaster, Mr Price’s commitment to the school and its future led to a number of significant changes made to best meet the evolving needs of pupils and parents. The phasing out of Years 7 and 8 to become an 11+ school and the addition of an outstanding nursery in September 2022, were led and overseen by him. This summer’s transformation of the school’s playground, which has been a brilliant success with pupils and parents alike, was also down to David’s determination and hard work. Most recently, The Mall has celebrated its 150th anniversary, which has coincided with the school reaching its next important milestone – a change to a co-educational school with the first girls joining Reception in September 2023.

Under Mr Price’s leadership, the educational opportunities that The Mall offers its pupils has expanded, ensuring that every child who joins the school would be able to thrive. The school’s aim of delivering of an all-round education to pupils in sports, music, drama and art, led to the development of an excellent extra-curricular programme and the school continues to deliver academic outperformance, regularly recognised by scholarship awards from the best senior schools. The education on offer was recognised in an excellent report from the recent ISI inspection.

The Governors have appointed executive search consultancy Odgers Berndtson to work with them in finding Mr Price’s successor.