Barker College

Barker College is an independent Anglican co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school, located in Hornsby, a North Shore suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Barker was founded in 1890 by Rev. Henry Plume at Kurrajong Heights. In 2016 Barker announced a transition to a fully co-educational school, commencing in 2018 with girls in early learning and Kindergarten, in 2019 with girls in Year 3; in 2020 with girls in Year 7. It includes boarding facilities.

The school also incorporates three campuses for Aboriginal children. Two in NSW and the third Dhupuma Barker, in North East Arnhem Land in 2021.

The Council of Barker College was originally constituted by the Barker College Ordinance of 1919. In 1939, Barker College was incorporated pursuant to the provisions of the Anglican Church of Australia (Bodies Corporate) Act 1938. Therefore, though Barker College is an Anglican school, it is separately incorporated and has its own governing body.

Barker is affiliated with the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, the Junior School Heads Association of Australia, the Australian Boarding Schools' Association, the Independent Schools Association, and is a founding member of the Combined Associated Schools.

In 1890, Henry Plume took up the position of Rector at St Stephen's Church, Kurrajong. It was at the church that he tutored five local pupils for the Junior, Senior and Matriculation Examinations. Their academic success encouraged Plume to establish his own school. In 1891, Plume selected Stokesleigh, a guest house in Kurrajong Heights, as the site for this school. The name Barker College was chosen in memory of Frederic Barker, the second Bishop of Sydney whom Plume had met soon after his arrival in Australia. An outbreak of scarlet fever in 1894 convinced Plume that the School was too isolated and would be better located nearer to Sydney. Thus the School moved to its present site in Hornsby in 1896, and in 1919 its ownership transferred to the Church of England. In 1971, the first Student Council commenced.

1975 saw the introduction of the co-educational collegiate senior school for students in Years 11 and 12, with the enrolment of 59 female students. In 2000, with Year 10 becoming became part of the senior school, girls started at Year 10 level.

The following men have served as Headmasters of Barker College:

The school motto, Honor non Honores, is derived from the Latin meaning "Honour not Rewards". The earliest record of the motto is on an illuminated address presented to Rev and Mrs Plume on their departure from the School in 1905.