Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking Facts for Kids

Junior ministerial offices 1981–1985

Minister of State for Local Government
In office 11 September 1984 – 1 September 1985
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Sec. of State	Patrick Jenkin
Preceded by	The Lord Bellwin
Succeeded by	William Waldegrave
Minister of State for Industry and Information Technology
In office 5 January 1981 – 10 September 1984
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Sec. of State	Sir Keith Joseph Patrick Jenkin Cecil Parkinson Norman Tebbit
Preceded by	The Viscount Trenchard
Succeeded by	Geoffrey Pattie
Parliamentary Secretary for the Civil Service Department
In office 7 April 1972 – 4 March 1974 Serving with Geoff Johnson-Smith (1972–1974)
Prime Minister	Edward Heath
Preceded by	David Howell
Succeeded by	Robert Sheldon

Parliamentary offices

Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 June 1997 Life Peerage
Member of Parliament for Mole Valley
In office 9 June 1983 – 8 April 1997
Preceded by	Constituency created
Succeeded by	Paul Beresford
Member of Parliament for St Marylebone
In office 22 October 1970 – 13 May 1983
Preceded by	Quintin Hogg
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of Parliament for Acton
In office 28 March 1968 – 29 May 1970
Preceded by	Bernard Floud
Succeeded by	Nigel Spearing

Personal details

Born

3 November 1934 (age 90)
Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales

Political party

Conservative

Spouse

Mary Elizabeth Gray-Muir

(m. 1963)

Children

Oswin · Sophia · Amy

Residences

Iford, East Sussex, England

Education

Hampton Grammar School
St Paul's School, London

Alma mater

Magdalen College, Oxford (BA, MSc)

Signature

a. Minister of State for Industry: 5 January 1981 to 12 June 1983

Kenneth Wilfred Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking (born 3 November 1934) is a British politician. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) from 1968 to 1997. During his career, he held important government jobs, called cabinet positions. These included Home Secretary and Education Secretary.

After he stopped being an MP in 1997, he was made a life peer. This means he became a member of the House of Lords, another part of the UK Parliament, for the rest of his life. His official title is Baron Baker of Dorking.

Early Life and Education
Political Career
Focus on Education
- University Technical Colleges
- Views on GCSEs
Personal Life
In the Media
Honours
Arms

Early Life and Education

Kenneth Baker was born in Newport, Wales. His father was a civil servant, which is someone who works for the government. He went to Hampton Grammar School and later St Paul's School in London.

After finishing school, he studied History at Magdalen College, Oxford, and graduated in 1958. He later earned another degree in International Law. Before becoming a politician, he served in the Royal Artillery in the army and worked for the company Royal Dutch Shell.

Political Career

A politician's job is to represent people and help run the country. Kenneth Baker's career in politics lasted for many decades.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Baker in 2018

A Member of Parliament, or MP, is elected by people in a specific area to represent them in the House of Commons. Baker first tried to become an MP in 1964 and 1966 but was not successful. He finally won an election in 1968 for the area of Acton.

He lost this seat in 1970 but was soon elected as the MP for St Marylebone in London. He later represented Mole Valley in Surrey from 1983 until he retired from the House of Commons in 1997.

Working in Government

As an experienced MP, Baker was given important jobs in the government, which is led by the Prime Minister. In 1981, he became the Minister for Information Technology. In 1985, he joined the Cabinet as the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Cabinet is a team of the most important government ministers.

Secretary of State for Education

From 1986 to 1989, Baker was the Secretary of State for Education. This was one of his most famous roles. He made a big change to schools in England by introducing the National Curriculum in 1988. This was a set of subjects that all children in state schools had to study.

He also introduced special training days for teachers. These days became known as "Baker days." During this time, many people thought he might become the next leader of the Conservative Party.

Party Chairman and Home Secretary

In 1989, Baker became the Chairman of the Conservative Party. His job was to help the party prepare for the next general election.

After Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister in 1990, the new Prime Minister, John Major, made Baker the Home Secretary. As Home Secretary, he was in charge of crime, policing, and immigration. One of his well-known actions was introducing the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Life After Leaving Government

Baker left the government after the 1992 general election. He chose not to run for re-election as an MP in 1997. He was then given the title Baron Baker of Dorking and joined the House of Lords, where he still contributes to making laws.

Focus on Education

Baker (left) meets with Akshata Murty and students from the London Design and Engineering UTC in 2023.

Even after his main political career, Baker has remained very involved in education.

University Technical Colleges

Baker helped create the Baker Dearing Educational Trust. This organization helps set up special schools called University Technical Colleges (UTCs). UTCs are for students aged 14–19 and focus on science, technology, and engineering skills to prepare them for jobs.

Views on GCSEs

Interestingly, the man who introduced the National Curriculum now believes that GCSE exams should be abolished. He thinks they are no longer useful for students, who now stay in education or training until they are 18. He argues that the exams don't teach the skills employers want and can cause stress for young people.

Personal Life

Kenneth Baker married Mary Elizabeth Gray-Muir in 1963, and they have three children: Oswin, Sophia, and Amy. His son, Oswin, is a member of the Labour Party, which is a different political party from his father's.

Baker enjoys collecting books and political cartoons. He has written several books himself, including books about British kings and collections of poetry.

In the Media

During the 1980s, the TV puppet show Spitting Image often made fun of politicians. The show famously portrayed Kenneth Baker as a slug.

In 2023, he was being interviewed live on the BBC show Newsnight when his mobile phone kept ringing. The presenter, Victoria Derbyshire, had to take the phone away from him. He joked that the Prime Minister was trying to call him.

Honours

In 1992, he was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for his service to the country.
He has received several honorary doctorates from universities in recognition of his work.

Arms

Arms of Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking
	Crest Upon two closed books each fesswise the upper Azure the lower Gules both garnished and titled Or a cock also Or combed jelopped and legged Gules. Escutcheon Gyronny of eight Gules and Azure a roundel also Azure surmounted by an annulet enfiling the rings of the chains of three portcullises in pairle points inwards Or. Supporters On either side a male griffin reguardant Azure armed forelegged and rayed Or the dexter grasping in the beak a thistle flowered Gules slipped and leaved Or and the sinister a daffodil slipped and leaved Or. Motto Bene Tentare

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Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking facts for kids

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