By Tony Jackson, Headmaster at Barnard Castle School
Choosing a school for your child is one of the most challenging and important decisions you will have to make, and we do not underestimate the magnitude of such a judgement.
We place enormous emphasis on ensuring each and every pupil feels a sense of belonging at ‘Barney’; only then will they come close to maximising their potential.
It is important your child flourishes whilst at school, which are the most important and formative years of their lives. At Barney, our students exceed their academic potential as a result of inspiring teaching, delivered in an easy, open and respectful environment at the heart of which are the caring relationships that exist between the teachers and students.
The achievements of Barney in recent times are as a direct consequence of the teachers and wider ancillary staff who spend every day inspiring, supporting and guiding our young people. Barney has always possessed a wonderful environment, with happy children and staff at its heart.
Whilst we are extremely proud of what our students achieve academically, we also recognise the vital importance of preparing the next generation for an ever-changing and increasingly competitive and global marketplace.
We expect our pupils to work as hard as they can, and do as well as they can. However, we tell them that academic success will only open a door; it is what they do when they walk through that door that counts.
As such, we pride ourselves on our co-curricular activities because it is in these environments that most life lessons are learned. We want our young people to problem-solve, work in a team, demonstrate leadership and have emotional intelligence.
Beyond the traditional spheres of music, drama and sport, we currently offer more than 100 activities to our students, which includes a bespoke ‘Mind, Body and Soul’ programme for Year 7 and 8s.
We want Barnardians to be the types of people who light up a room when they enter it. This requires confidence, resilience and compassion, all built up over a period of time, and in a variety of ways, both within and beyond the classroom. No leader can achieve anything major without the influence of the staff who make it happen. This is especially the case in our school.
We tell our parents that our collective role, as parents and teachers, is to arm our children with the tools with which to clear the path ahead of them, not to clear the path for them. This means we have to allow them to fail at times, in a supportive environment. If we do that together, we are doing our best to prepare our young people for the challenges ahead.
Situated on the outskirts of Barnard Castle, we run an extensive transport service from across the North East to Barney. We also provide full or flexible boarding options in our friendly, welcoming boarding houses.
If you are interested in hearing more about what makes a Barney education so special, we are hosting an Open Morning across our entire School on Saturday 13th May 2023. To register your interest, please get in touch with a member of our Admissions Team on 01833 696030 or admissions@barneyschool.org.uk
Alternatively, should you not be able to attend this date, we are delighted to offer private visits for prospective pupils and their families, and our welcoming Admissions Team would be happy to arrange a date and time at your convenience.
We look forward to welcoming you to Barney.