Mr Richard Backhouse

Governor

Mr Richard Blackmore is a member of the Education Committee.

After studying Economics at Cambridge, Richard taught Economics and coached rowing at Oundle, before moving to Bradfield College, where he was Head of Economics & Politics, Assistant Head Pastoral and Extra-curricular, and then a Housemaster). He was appointed Principal at Monkton Combe School in 2005 where he remained until moving to become Principal of the Berkhamsted Schools Group in January 2016.  
 
Richard was Chair of HMC in 2021-22, and served on the Education Committee before and after that year. In April 2026, he left Berkhamsted to take up the role of Head of UK Appointments at RS Academics but still contributes to HMC training courses for Heads, and Deputies.  
 
He is also a trustee of the Wren Academies Trust, and a non-executive director of Elevate Education UK. 
 
In his spare time, he supports Bath Rugby, Southampton FC, reads, plays golf (badly), skis (fast), and tries to tame his garden.