Berkhamsted School - Boarding, Reviews, ISI Report (2024)

Since January 2016, Richard Backhouse has served as the school's principal.
He had a variety of positions at these institutions, including Director of Pastoral and Extracurricular Activities and Director of Rowing and Football, where he also gained management and leadership experience. He also taught Economics and led the Christian Union.
Richard and his wife Debbie have two children, and he continues to enjoy electronics, reading, golfing, skiing, and playing poor golf.
In September 2013, Andy Ford began his employment at Berkhamsted as Head of Religion and Philosophy. In September 2013, he was promoted to Deputy Head Academic Performance, and in September 2019, he was appointed Vice Principal.
In 2018, Julian Anthony was chosen to serve as the company's COO.
He has worked in top finance roles at BT, T-Mobile, and Premier Foods as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
The Chief People Officer (CPO) at Berkhamsted Schools Group is Tracey Evans.
Tracey joined Berkhamsted School in 2007 with a plethora of expertise in the industry.
She worked as an HR specialist and management trainer for 16 years while while attending school and earning her CIPD certification.
Tracey serves in this capacity as a resource for other smaller independent schools who have benefited from Berkhamsted's trailblazing programmes.
Two of Tracey's daughters graduated from Old Berkhamsted.
In September 2017, Martin Walker began serving as the headteacher of Berkhamsted Sixth.
Two of his daughters attend Berkhamsted School; he is married to Liz, with whom he has two daughters.
After serving as the deputy head of Berkhamsted Sixth, Mary-Clare Startin began her tenure as headteacher of Berkhamsted Boys in September 2018.
Mary-Clare studied English at Warwick, received her teaching credential at Cambridge, and just finished her MA in Educational Leadership and Management.
Throughout her career, which has included stints at Brighton College, Christ College Brecon (where she served as Head of English), and King's Bruton, she has taught English, Latin, Classical Civilization, and Drama (as Director of Teaching and Learning).
Mary-Clare supports Worcestershire Cricket Club and West Ham United.
They have a daughter who attends Berkhamsted Girls. Mary-Clare is married to Dr. Nick Startin, the head of modern languages at Berkhamsted.
The headteacher of Berkhamsted Girls is Liz Richardson.
She continued her education after leaving Watford Grammar School for Girls by enrolling at Exeter University where she earned a PGCE and a degree in English and American literature.
She moved from teaching in the state sector to Berkhamsted School for Girls in 1988 and has held the posts of Head of Russell House, Head of English and Deputy Head of Berkhamsted Girls.
She has helped with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, the Berkhamstedian, and many other parts of school life. She has organised debate teams and clubs.
She has a wealth of experience in both independent and maintained education, having taught in both Prep and Pre-Prep in all year groups and in all subjects.
She joined Heatherton from Cheltenham College Preparatory School, where she was Head of Lower School since 2010 and previously Deputy Head of the Pre-Prep Department.
Her leadership at Cheltenham College Prep School has been characterised by a readiness to experiment and improve the curriculum.
Debbie just received a Master's degree in Educational Leadership, with a focus on teaching and learning and teacher effectiveness as her areas of study.
The headmaster of Berkhamsted Preparatory School is Jamie Hornshaw.
He has spent his entire career in the Independent Sector and was Deputy Headmaster at Brentwood Preparatory School before moving to live abroad when he took up the post of Headmaster of The British School of Paris Junior School in France.
The headteacher of Berkhamsted Pre-Preparatory School and Berkhamsted Day Nursery is Karen O'Connor.
She attended Saint Michael's Grammar school in North London, prior to the University of Southampton, completing her degree in English and History, followed by a PGCE.
Her teaching career began in London where she taught across the primary age range before very quickly taking up her first Deputy Head post in a Hertfordshire primary school.
Following a period of Acting Headship, Karen chose to move to a second Deputy Head post in the Inner London borough of Camden, which is recognised for outstanding primary school education.
Karen is married to Richard and they have a daughter who attends Berkhamsted Prep School.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, playing tennis, travel and joining her daughter on horse riding hacks.
Richard Thompson is Assistant Vice Principal (External Relations).
Richard has worked at Berkhamsted School since September 1998 and, since then, has been a Head of Department, a Head of House and Deputy Head of Boys before becoming Head in September 2013, a position he held for five years.
He is married to Laura who teaches at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and has a son who attends Berkhamsted Boys.
As well as having a career in education, Richard has played rugby for Moseley, Ebbw Vale and Saracens, and maintains a keen interest in sport.