Katy graduated from Balliol College, Oxford with a first class degree in 1982, when she embarked upon a DPhil. Her studies were put on hold in 1985 when she began her career as an English teacher at St Paul’s Girls’ School in London. When her husband David secured a job at the University of Birmingham two years later, Katy took up a teaching position at King Edward’s School.
The King Edward’s of the mid-1980s was led by Chief Master Martin Rogers, who encouraged Katy as a new teacher. The English department of only four teachers (not many boys opted to study English in those days) was headed by the inspirational Dr Tom Hosty and was home to the legendary English master Tony Trott. There were just three female teachers in the whole school. Music and Drama were flourishing joint activities with KEHS even in those days, and Katy enjoyed directing the joint junior plays, Under Milk Wood, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Twelfth Night with her fellow English teacher Dr Paul Ford.
Positions at Latymer Upper School in West London and St Edward’s School in Oxford followed, the latter as a Head of Department and her first experience of a boarding school, before she became Deputy Head Academic at Highgate School (then all boys). After five years in post, having been encouraged by her mentor Tony Evans, Head of King’s College School and Chair of HMC, Katy became Head of Sevenoaks School in 2002. Already a strong school, Katy’s 17 years in post brought about a renewal of the school’s identity, firmly establishing it as a coeducational day and boarding school and leading the school into its current position as one of the biggest and most successful IB Diploma Schools in the world. Her first Masterplan led to the creation of several award-winning buildings: the Performing Arts Centre, a Science & Technology Building, a Sixth Form Study Centre and a new boarding house.
In 2012, nearly 30 years after putting her DPhil away in a drawer, thanks to the generosity of the Sevenoaks School governing body who gave her a sabbatical term, Katy was able to resume her studies. A productive period was spent in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where David was a visiting scholar, and her doctoral thesis on Dryden’s translation of Virgil was awarded in 2013.
A second headship had not been part of a plan, but the opportunity to return to KES as Chief Master in 2019, the pull of the other great all-IB school in England was strong. She found the spirit of the school similar to the 1980s, and plenty to reactivate for modern Birmingham. She was determined that KES would continue to be known for the tremendous breadth that it offered, and to meet the needs and aspirations of the contemporary student body.
She could see how the school could rise to its leadership role in the King Edward VI Foundation (of which the Chief Master of King Edward’s School is the Headmaster), for the benefit of pupils, staff and city. Katy threw herself into working alongside the Chief Executive Jodh Dhesi to broaden the Foundation’s reach. In taking this huge role, she was greatly supported by Keith Phillips, a KES teacher with her in the 1980s, and whose tenure as Acting Chief Master facilitated a smooth transition. Tim Clarke, Chair of ISGB when she joined the school, was also an invaluable champion.
Throughout her career, in whatever role, Katy has found fulfilment as an English teacher and in getting to know the pupils she has taught. She taught IB Higher Level English for 18 years, and then took on a Standard Level set which she taught through Covid. She has enjoyed working under her Heads of Department Gemma Babb and David Leigh during this time and being honorary member of a great team. She has found herself sitting opposite fathers and sons at parents’ evenings, having taught both generations; her longevity in the classroom means she remains in touch with her pupils from across the decades.
Katy has also found tremendous satisfaction in appointing teaching and support staff to their roles (hundreds over the years), identifying new talent and being a mentor. Indeed, about 20 current HMC Heads are her former colleagues and Deputies, whom she has encouraged and often mentored as they embarked on their first headships – possibly more than anyone else!
Perhaps the most visible thread running throughout Katy’s career is one of crafting and delivering visionary change to schools. She has characteristically found herself arriving at the point where transition is needed: preparing for co-education, for example, or seeing opportunities for inventiveness in the curriculum or the potential for an inspiring physical environment; and, of course, leading through a pandemic. She has enjoyed planning transformative projects, working in a team to bring them to fruition and seeing the enthusiasm of pupils in using them. Working with benefactors is important and has been tremendously exhilarating throughout her time in leadership, with Katy being incredibly grateful for their commitment and contribution to the school and its accessibility for the young people of Birmingham. Civic leaders such as Andy Street OE and former Mayor of the West Midlands, and the vice-chancellors of our neighbour University of Birmingham, Professor Sir David Eastwood and Professor Adam Tickell have shown tremendous support and goodwill, for which she will always remain grateful.
Katy leaves King Edward’s School as it looks to the future and embraces its own period of transition. The vision she has set in motion will ensure that KES continues to deliver a world-class, broad and modern approach to education in our changing times.
The joint leadership teams of KES and KEHS will now go on to develop and deliver the vision that she has articulated for both the schools and this wonderful school site as we re-establish ourselves on the national educational landscape.
Katy Ricks will forever be associated with fearless and bold leadership of King Edward’s School, as we move into our future with strength and vision.
Thank you, Dr. Ricks, for everything you’ve done for KES. Wishing you a well-deserved and joyful retirement!
