13/08/2026
HEADS OF SEVENOAKS SERIES
RICHARD BARKER - Headmaster 1981 to 1996
Richard Barker succeeded Alan Tammadge, having previously taught at Bedales and Marlborough College. From 1966 he had also pioneered a Business Studies A-level, considered a cutting-edge development in education.
Sevenoaks already had a reputation for innovation. As a moderniser with a new ‘management approach’ and strong grasp of business Richard Barker was a good fit. John Guyatt wrote in Richard’s obituary, ‘It was an exciting, almost turbulent time. Richard wanted change and he wanted it fast: co-education…new buildings, tennis, the Summer Festival, the IB: all were enthusiastically pushed forward. Decisive, firm, always courageous, ideas tumbled out of him’.
Richard Barker is credited with creating a heterogeneous school. Four years prior to his arrival Sevenoaks had been the first HMC school to offer the IB Diploma and he enthusiastically publicised its merits as a broad, rigorous and challenging programme. By the time he left Sevenoaks, half the Sixth Form were choosing it instead of A-levels - even though many people in England were unaware of the qualification - and the school’s overall academic reputation had improved. Richard Barker also recognised the advantages of co-education and international students; the school went fully co-ed in 1984, and he championed investment in boarding including Sennocke House in 1986. Among his other achievements were much improved sporting standards and an emphasis on co-curricular opportunities for everyone.
In terms of the campus, Richard Barker oversaw significant development during his 15 years. As well as repairing the damage done by the Great Storm of 1987, he was clear the school needed the very best facilities for it to flourish and be considered one of the best independent schools in the country. This involved a huge re-landscaping of the campus, a new Science, Electronics and Computing Centre in 1988, the Bailey Tennis Centre in 1989, extending the Aisher Hall in 1990, and Claridge House in 1992.
While at Sevenoaks, Richard Barker was greatly supported by his wife Imogen who we were delighted to see in June for the Retired Staff Lunch. She is pictured at the event alongside John Guyatt and Tommy Cookson who, on his appointment as Headmaster in 1996, noted Richard Barker’s ‘dedication, shrewdness and foresight which had carried the school to new heights’.
