Born and educated in Birmingham, Sir David took his first degree from the University of Cambridge. He became a founder member of the Centre for Contemporary Studies at the University of Birmingham before becoming a teacher at both secondary and primary schools. He then took a DPhil in philosophy at the University of Oxford and served as headteacher of Grove School, Handsworth, for 24 years. Now retired from teaching, Sir David is a member of various government committees including the Stevenson Commission on ICT and the Standards Task Force. He is currently an honorary professor at the Universities of Warwick and Birmingham; he has a DLitt from the University of Birmingham and an Hon DUniv from Birmingham City University. He is a fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford, and is also an honorary fellow of Wadham College, Oxford. As founder and president of both the National Primary Trust and the Children's University, Sir David was knighted in 1999 for services to primary education. He has published numerous articles and books on education and philosophy. His most recent book is "Handsworth Revolution" (DLM, London 2002).