David Cope
David Cope heads up Search Associates in the UK and Ireland, joining the team after a long and successful international career in education and management.
A Cambridge graduate with a BA and MA in History he taught History, English and Spanish for five years before becoming a headmaster. For twenty years he led three British schools in the UK and France (Dover College, the British School of Paris and Marlborough College), with a special commitment to furthering co-education and international education. During this time he developed staff exchanges and other links with schools in Australia, Canada, France, the Gambia, Germany, India, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, South Africa, Ukraine and the US.
David has also had substantial senior management experience in other fields, including British Council representation in Mexico and running the VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) programme in Zambia. Most recently, he was also responsible for building up the UK branch of Ashoka, a US-based development agency supporting social innovators in over fifty countries worldwide.
His career has involved extensive travel throughout Europe, Africa, North and Central America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, with visits to many schools of all kinds.
He has been an active member of the British HMC (Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference), serving on its overseas membership and academic policy committees, and also of ECIS (European Council of International Schools). He was a founder member of COBISEC (British Schools in Europe) and its Treasurer for five years. He has also served on many school boards both in the UK and Zambia, and is thoroughly well versed in all aspects of school management and staff recruitment at every level.
David Cope is also actively involved in school Head and other senior management searches. Recent work includes assignments with: the Dubai American Academy (UAE); the British International School of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia); the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa (Kenya); The English School, Bogota (Colombia); the British Overseas School, Karachi (Pakistan); Aitchison College, Lahore (Pakistan); the SEK group of schools (Spain, France, Ireland); the proposed new British School of Rostov-on-Don (Russia); The American Bilingual School (Kuwait); and the Oporto British School (Portugal).