David Purcell

BA (Hons) Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University 

PGCE University of Sunderland 

MA (With Distinction) International Education, University of Sunderland

Dave joined BIS HCMC in August 2025 as Head of TOK and a teacher of English. Growing up in a small village near Durham, he left the UK for what was intended to be one year of teaching abroad in Indonesia. His immediate love of Indonesian culture turned this into a ten-year stay, during which he moved from Jakarta to the Balinese jungle to develop and deliver a unique curriculum.

This was followed by three years at the British School Manila, where he continued to focus on developing critical, creative, and adaptive thinking skills both inside and outside the classroom. Dave’s love of history and exploring new cultures has led him to travel extensively throughout Southeast Asia and beyond. While he has no plans to return to the UK, his deep roots in the North East of England remain evident through his enduring support of Sunderland AFC—and his total inability to get a tan."