George Walker obituary

My friend and colleague George Walker, who has died aged 80, had a great impact on education, both in the UK and globally.

He wrote a number of books on the subject, including To Educate the Nations (2004), Educating the Global Citizen (2006) and An A-Z of School Leadership (2007).

Born in Watford, Hertfordshire, George was the son of William, then in service with the RAF and later a primary school headteacher, and Celia (nee Dean), a teacher of French. At Watford grammar school for boys he showed himself to be an accomplished pianist, and after studying chemistry at Exeter College, Oxford, he spent a year at the University of Cape Town under the supervision of the renowned concert pianist Lamar Crowson.

Deciding, however, to become a chemistry teacher, he took up his first post at his old school, where I was also working. Then came a lectureship in education at the University of York under the mentorship of Professor Harry Rée, and he went on to take part in several national initiatives in science education.

A vigorous supporter of comprehensive education, after a deputy headship at Carisbrooke high school on the Isle of Wight George progressed to his first headship at the Heathcote school in Stevenage, followed by a second at the Cavendish school in Hemel Hempstead.

In 1991 he became director general at the International School of Geneva, taking overall charge of its, then, three campuses and overseeing a period of strong growth with calmness, integrity, efficiency and humility. He gained the post despite claiming to be less than fluent in French (the school has bilingual campuses) but was soon chairing meetings in two languages. He was also known for his piano recitals.

Eight years later George went on to serve as director general of the rapidly growing International Baccalaureate, never losing sight of the original idealistic aims of the project. This allowed him to stay in Geneva; he loved the mountains, skiing and hiking, and once even attempted an ascent of Mont Blanc.

After retirement to Suffolk he continued to be invited to give speeches around the world, and wrote a number of well-received books, including Challenges From a New World (2010), and a book of autobiographical vignettes entitled Glimpses of Utopia (2013).

George was appointed OBE in 1992 and awarded an honorary doctorate in education from the University of Bath, where he also served as a visiting professor.

He is survived by his wife, Jenny (nee Hill), whom he met in Watford and married in 1968, their children, Catherine and Simon, and grandchildren Robert, Claire, Thomas, and Daniel.