gummer is the eldest child of former conservative cabinet minister john gummer, and penelope jane (née gardner). john gummer was mp for suffolk coastal until the 2010 general election, when he moved to the house of lords. gummer attended st saviour's church of england primary school in ealing, west london. between 1987 and 1991, he was a chorister at st john's college school, cambridge, where he sang under george guest and christopher robinson. gummer was a music scholar at tonbridge school in kent. having won the vellacott historical essay prize, he took a starred double first in history at peterhouse, cambridge, where he was an exhibitioner and scholar.