Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="667" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/12/James-Barker-667x1000.jpg" alt="James Barker, Head Master of Warwick Senior School, Warwick" class="wp-image-66628" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/12/James-Barker-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/12/James-Barker-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/12/James-Barker-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/12/James-Barker.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" /></figure>



<p>James Barker is Head Master of the oldest boys’ school in the country. He celebrates 10 years at Warwick Senior after rejoining in 2015. A former student at the school he lives with his partner and their four children &#8211; a son aged 13, three-year-old daughter and 15-month-old twin daughters. When he’s not running a school, you might find him coaching the Under 12s rugby team, umpiring a cricket match or reading the latest research on Character Education.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-long-you-have-been-here"><strong>How long you have been here?</strong></h3>



<p>I&#8217;ve been Head Master since June 2020. I first joined the school in 2015 as Deputy Head of Co-curricular and then became a Senior Deputy in 2018. I&#8217;ve been teaching for more than 20 years and before that I went to school here. I studied A Levels in History, Politics and Economics and captained the 1XV. I now coach the Under 12 rugby and cricket teams.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-you-grow-up"><strong>Where did you grow up?</strong></h3>



<p>Leamingon Spa. My mum was a teacher; and my dad an engineer. Our parents made a lot of sacrifices to send us to independent schools. I have a slightly younger sister, who went to The Kingsley School. She went to Cambridge and qualified and practiced as a barrister before moving to the US with her family. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-there-any-major-changes-since-you-were-a-pupil"><strong>Are there any major changes since you were a pupil?</strong></h3>



<p>So much has changed. I think the biggest change is how inclusive the school is.  We cater for a huge range of interests and encourage the boys to pursue a broad range of activities. I played rugby and cricket, but wasn’t encouraged to try different things beyond the sports field and my academic subjects. That wouldn’t happen now.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-30-second-elevator-pitch-for-your-school-sell-it-nbsp"><strong>30 second elevator pitch for your school – sell it!&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/03/1-1000x667.jpg" alt="Warwick School campus, Warwick" class="wp-image-61437" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/03/1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/03/1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/03/1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/03/1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Our aim is to ensure the boys develop a well-rounded set of character traits which will equip them for life beyond Warwick School. We have amazing facilities, more than 160 specialist teachers, hundreds of extra-curricular clubs and the performing arts and music here is just phenomenal, not just our sports.</p>



<p>This is a place where Character Education is done well, we have even appointed an Assistant Head Ben Miller, who is Head of Character and Community, and our staff sports team have redeveloped the PE curriculum around our school values of courage, creativity, curiosity, humility, perseverance and responsibility.</p>



<p>We provide a safe space for boys to be themselves, we&#8217;re not judgmental, and we get really fantastic academic grades, but we don&#8217;t believe education should just be delivered through the school curriculum. We think a holistic approach to education is needed and central to this is the development of our pupils’ character.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-would-you-like-to-star-as-you-in-the-movie-of-your-life-nbsp"><strong>Who would you like to star as you in the movie of your life?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="667" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/fight-club.25541-667x1000.jpg" alt="Poster for Fight Club, 20th Century Fox" class="wp-image-63784" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/fight-club.25541-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/fight-club.25541-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/fight-club.25541-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/fight-club.25541-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/fight-club.25541-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/fight-club.25541.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo credit: 1999 film, The Fight Club, 20th Century Fox in which Edward Fox stars as the Narrator, an insomniac office worker, alongside Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden</figcaption></figure>



<p>Edward Norton. <em>Fight Club</em> and <em>American History X</em> are two of my favourite films. He&#8217;s been in some mainstream films but has hidden depth. I love film and used to teach a General Studies course on Philosophy through film.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-been-given-a-1m-donation-for-the-school-what-will-you-spend-it-on-nbsp"><strong>You’ve been given a £1m donation for the school, what will you spend it on?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>A bursary fund. I am really worried about the fact more and more people are being priced out of education.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-own-childhood-school-days"><strong>Describe your own childhood school days</strong></h3>



<p>I loved school: the balance of the intellectual challenge and opportunity to play sports. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-the-common-theme-of-your-school-reports-nbsp"><strong>What was the common theme of your school reports?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I used to think of myself as this edgy character when I was at school. Then one day after coming back here I pulled up my old school records and saw what my teachers had written about me. One of my teacher’s wrote that I was a mature, driven young man with a strong sense of justice. It was quite undermining of my poacher turned game-keeper self-image!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-worst-nbsp-teachers-at-school-and-why"><strong>Favourite/worst&nbsp;teachers at school and why?</strong></h3>



<p>My history and politics teacher John Jefferies at Warwick School as his A Level class was one of my favourites. His intellectual curiosity and love of learning made such an impact. He went on to become a Head of Sixth Form and remains an inspirational teacher of history and politics at Warwick.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-and-worst-subject-at-school"><strong>Best and worst subject at school? </strong></h3>



<p>History and Politics were my best; my worst would definitely be Latin. I did not do well. Strangely enough my son loves it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-you-go-to-uni"><strong>Where did you go to uni?</strong></h3>



<p>University of Cardiff</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-did-you-study"><strong>What did you study?</strong></h3>



<p>Philosophy. </p>



<p>After graduating I went on to the Pontypridd campus to study a post-grad in Law. Afterwards I secured a training contract with had a work placement with a commercial law firm but did not enjoy it. It was then I decided to do a PGCE in Religious Studies at Warwick University instead. I first taught Religious Studies at Banbury School, before moving back to Warwick as a teacher of Theology and Philosophy.</p>



<p>Following this I became Upper Master at Abingdon and Assistant Head Co-curricular at the Royal Grammar School Worcester.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-weren-t-a-head-what-would-you-be"><strong>If you weren’t a Head, what would you be?</strong></h3>



<p>I looked at law, so maybe a lawyer. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-what-s-on-your-work-desk"><strong>Describe what’s on your work desk…</strong></h3>



<p>I have a standing desk as find it more productive &#8211; besides my computer it&#8217;s covered in folders and various books. They include a concise dictionary, a book of quotations and <em>On This Day: The History of the World in 365 Days</em>, all useful for writing my weekly whole school assembly.</p>



<p>Other books include <em>Thrive: How to Cultivate Character So Your Children Can Flourish Online</em>, latest research by Professor Tom Harrison, who is Director of Education at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, as well as Program Director for the MA in Character Education at the University of Birmingham.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-favourite-books"><strong>Tell us your favourite books</strong></h3>



<p>One of my favourite non-fiction books is Yuval Noah Harari&#8217;s <em>21&nbsp;Lessons&nbsp;for the&nbsp;21st&nbsp;Century</em>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="654" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Yuval-Noah-Hararis-Lessons-for-the-21st-Century-654x1000.jpg" alt="21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari" class="wp-image-63791" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Yuval-Noah-Hararis-Lessons-for-the-21st-Century-654x1000.jpg 654w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Yuval-Noah-Hararis-Lessons-for-the-21st-Century-523x800.jpg 523w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Yuval-Noah-Hararis-Lessons-for-the-21st-Century-768x1174.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Yuval-Noah-Hararis-Lessons-for-the-21st-Century.jpg 981w" sizes="(max-width: 654px) 100vw, 654px" /></figure>



<p>And a novel I like is Gregory David Roberts <em>Shantaram</em>, about a convicted Australian bank robber and former addict who escapes from prison, flees to India and falls in love with the culture. It&#8217;s supposed to be part biographical. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-current-or-most-recent-read"><strong>Current or most recent read?</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="651" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/One-thousand-autumns-651x1000.jpg" alt="The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell" class="wp-image-63785" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/One-thousand-autumns-651x1000.jpg 651w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/One-thousand-autumns-521x800.jpg 521w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/One-thousand-autumns-768x1179.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/One-thousand-autumns.jpg 977w" sizes="(max-width: 651px) 100vw, 651px" /></figure>



<p><em>The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet</em> by David Mitchell, which I found in a secondhand Oxfam bookshop. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-best-school-trip-childhood-or-current-you-ve-ever-been-on"><strong>What’s the best school trip (childhood or current) you’ve ever been on?</strong></h3>



<p>I&#8217;ve been on a lot of sports trips to places including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in 1995 when it first opened up post-apartheid. One of my personal favourites was St Petersburg back in the days when Russia was a bit of an unknown. I am excited about going on a school trip to Japan.</p>



<p><em>Warwick Senior School is a highly-regarded day and boarding school in Warwick with fantastic ISI reports (excellent across the board) for boys aged 11-18 years old. Read our review&nbsp;<a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/trending/warwick-senior-school-warwickshire-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</em> <em>It was also Highly Commended in Muddy’s <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-schools-awards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best School Awards 2025</a> in the Passionate about Sport category.</em></p>


Head’s Up: James Barker of Warwick Senior School, Warwick

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