Our ethos and values
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Welcome If you were to ask a Barnard Castle parent why they chose this School for their son or daughter, they would tell you that children here are happy, balanced and successful. Here we know that a formidable all-round education and a sense of fun should go together and we believe that when children are happy and secure, they can achieve great things. At Barnard Castle we want our girls and boys to lead successful and fulfilled lives. We want them to discover and develop passions, skills, knowledge and a love of learning that will remain with them. We want them to feel part of our community and, with its support and encouragement, to take pride in their very best efforts, to recognise the difference between right and wrong and to understand that each one of us has a duty to our neighbour. I hope that these pages give you a flavour of Barnard Castle, but nothing is a substitute for actually experiencing it so I hope that you too will join us for a warm Barney welcome in the near future. I look forward to seeing you. Alan Stevens Headmaster
When you are steeped in little things, you shall safely attempt great things...
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Barnard Castle School
Opening doors With its roots in John Balliol’s thirteenth century hospital close to the School’s present site, the modern Barnard Castle School was established with the addition of a generous legacy from Benjamin Flounders and opened its doors in 1883. Since then it has been opening doors for boys and girls from all over Britain and the world. ‘Barney’, as it is affectionately known, has established a strong reputation for academic success, sporting excellence and musical achievement in a vibrant, unpretentious and caring environment. Situated in stunning rural Teesdale and set it its own extensive grounds, Barney enjoys an enviable location which allows girls and boys to combine the pleasures and pursuits of rural life with links to world-class centres of business, industry and higher education. Quite simply, it is an idyllic environment in which children can grow up without many of the pressures of contemporary urban life. As a close-knit and friendly community, Barney nurtures a family atmosphere with strong pastoral care, enabling girls and boys to realise their true potential and eventually to go on to make their mark with all of the good judgement, confidence and team spirit that they have taken from their School.
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Inspiring minds The exceptional quality of teaching at Barnard Castle School is reflected in excellent examination results, but these are borne out of an easy, open and respectful relationship between our teachers and children. That relationship, in the hands of passionate, skilled teachers gives our boys and girls a formidable academic edge. For our most able pupils in Senior School we offer Enrichment Programmes in academia, sport, art and music. For those who need to consolidate a topic or whose confidence needs to be bolstered, we offer Learning Support and subject-specific tutorials as required without charge. At Barney, no-one is left behind.
“ T e a c h e r s s h ow g r e a t co m m i t m e n t t o t h e i r p u p i l s ’ p r o g r e ss ” Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011
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Living values Our values guide daily life here; they are embedded in our Christian foundation and our medieval heritage. They provide a common purpose for everyone in our community and we take pride in the fact that not least among them is Enjoyment. A commitment to leadership, service, friendship and success lie at the heart of Barnard Castle and we have as our core values: Endeavour – Community – Integrity – Enjoyment – Compassion – Duty Never have these been so important to the future of our nation and so central to School life as we continue to attract both local, regional and overseas pupils from different cultures and religions. At Barnard Castle we strive to create a dynamic and talented community, where children can learn from and with each other and appreciate the diversity of human nature.
“ W e f e e l t h a t o u r c h i l d r e n e n jo y b e i n g k n ow n a s i n d i v i d u a l s . T h e i n t e r e s t t h a t t h e s t a f f t a k e i n t h e e n co u r a g e m e n t , d e v e l o p m e n t a n d s u p p o r t o f t a l e n t w i t h i n o u r c h i l d r e n i s f i r s t - c l a ss ” Christopher and Sallie-Anne Morrill
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Thriving community We value individuality in our boys and girls and this is also reflected in our Houses, each of which has its own character. Whether joining us as a day or boarding pupil, all girls and boys will be guided and supported by outstanding pastoral care. The Chaplain is also always on hand and the Sixth Form run a highly successful peer support network, emphasising that every member of our community has a duty to support each other. At Barney the gifted individual, the grafting enthusiast and the team-player can flourish. Music and drama thrive and the Chapel Choir has a reputation that reaches far beyond Teesdale. Yet alongside these and our major sports there is also plenty of room for those who want to spend time fencing, building model railways, playing lacrosse, debating, shooting, dog-walking, learning cross-stitch, exploring the solar system and a host of other pursuits in which girls and boys can engage with the innocence and curiosity of children who are allowed to grow up at their own pace.
“ T h e q u a l i t y o f t h e p u p i l s ’ p e r so n a l d e v e l o p m e n t i s o u t s t a n d i n g , promoted by the excellent quality of relationships within the sc h oo l co m m u n i t y a n d t h e f i r s t - r a t e c a r e s h ow n f o r t h e m b y a highly dedicated staff.” Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011
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Sporting excellence Barnard Castle School has developed a national reputation for boys’ and girls’ sport. As we endeavour to educate and develop the whole person, sport has an important place in School and in the curriculum. All boys and girls are introduced and coached by experts in a range of team sports. Our reputation is not confined to one discipline and the School enjoys regular competitive success in rugby, hockey, cross-country, football, lacrosse, swimming, netball, cricket, athletics and squash. Our boys and girls have achieved county, regional and national representative honours in a range of disciplines and many continue to do so after they leave School. Our aim for all girls and boys is to guide them in their development, encourage them to enjoy sport, to value playing as a team and to maintain the discipline of sport as part of their life after leaving School.
“Our top class coaching and excellent facilities provide the basis for spirited competition at all levels and for all aptitudes, with pupils experiencing a wide range of sport.” Martin Pepper, Director of Sport
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Building confidence It takes courage to dive in, but that is exactly how we ask our girls and boys to approach each of the challenges and opportunities that comes their way here. Whether it is preparing to give a speech at a formal Lectern Club dinner, taking a lead role in the latest drama production, pushing the boundaries on a CCF expedition or mentoring a younger pupil, we want all of our children to develop competencies and talents to take them beyond the classroom. Through activities such as the Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, Peer Support, a highly active Sixth Form Executive Committee and many others, Barney pupils learn to listen, lead and assert themselves confidently with a light touch. A pervasive sense of duty and altruism is reflected not only in our girls’ and boys’ helpfulness towards each other and to visitors, but they also regularly raise over £10,000 each year to support a range of UK and overseas charitable causes of their own choice.
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Investing for the future Our Preparatory School establishes a foundation for life and the Senior School builds upon it the skills, knowledge and good judgement that our girls and boys need as they prepare for life beyond the classroom and the innumerable challenges of the modern world. Our Careers and Higher Education team is supported by an active network of over 10,000 former pupils in more than 30 countries, representing a full spectrum of careers and business sectors. Many Barnardians have progressed to notable positions in industry, sport and government, the armed forces, business and the arts and are ready to share their experience and advice with the next generation.
“The School allowed me to learn to communicate with all character types, something which has helped me greatly in my work as a surgeon.� Gunaratnam Shyamalan (1982 - 1992), Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
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