John Brchall was born in Glasgow in 1948.  He entered teaching after completing a Degree in Geography at Strathclyde University.  He rose through the ranks in State Education in Scotland and by age 35 years he took charge of his first secondary school in Dalmellington, Ayrshire. 

From Ayrshire he moved with his wife and young family to set up the new Prince Andrew School on the Island of St Helena in the South Atlantic as a three year project for the Overseas Development Administration (ODA).

On his return he was appointed Headteacher of Queens Park Secondary School, Glasgow before moving to become Principal of The British School of Gran Canaria, Spain.

In 1995, he moved to SE Asia to take over The British International School of Jakarta from which he returned in 2000 to tackle the challenge of turning around a failing inner-city comprehensive in the Millbrook area of Southampton.

In 2003, he moved to the Middle East to assume charge of The Sultan’s School, Oman eventually moving into private consultancy work in 2008.

John Birchall has been a member of HMC and set up the English Speaking Canary Island Schools’ (ESCIS) Association.  He is a former Chair of FOBISSEA (Federation of British International Schools in SE Asia), and until recently was an Executive Committee Member of BSME (British Schools of the Middle East)