Barnard Castle School Prospectus Senior School

senior school

Barnard Castle Senior School is where girls and boys grow up with surprising rapidity, entering as children and then moving into the Sixth Form on the cusp of adulthood. However, our space, curriculum and ethos allow them to grow up at their own pace.

Children here are naturally curious, creative and competitive. They will find new subjects being introduced by inspirational teachers, new activities and sports being playing with enthusiasm. Our aim is to inspire girls and boys and to prepare them for increasingly independent study, to cultivate in them a love of knowledge, an interest in how they learn and a desire to keep doing it which will remain with them long after they have left us.

When you are steeped in little things, you shall safely attempt great things...

“The overall quality of the curriculum is outstanding.�

Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011

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Loving learning Our curriculum is robust, broad, balanced and stimulating, consisting of a strong grounding in proper sciences, humanities, ancient and modern languages and technical subjects which provide a secure preparation for Sixth Form studies and which universities value.

Intellectually, we want all of our children to feel realistically challenged and stimulated to discover more. Therefore, girls and boys are taught in sets according to subject and academic ability so that no-one feels either dispirited by the complexity or bored by the simplicity of a task. Sets in the junior years are fluid and re-assessed every few weeks.

Class sizes in Year 7 rarely exceed 20 and lower sets are always much smaller. GCSE classes may number up to 15 children but are often much smaller.

Independent monitoring shows that year after year Barnard Castle School adds value academically so, while an able child will achieve top grades, those of more modest abilities will normally exceed their expectations.

For our most able pupils intellectual stimulation and challenge are never far away with Symposium, Debating Society, Law Club, Middle Eastern Language and Politics Club among others. Scholars in Year 7 will be invited to join the Balliol Group (named after the School’s medieval benefactor who also founded Balliol College Oxford) where they will explore a range of ideas beyond the normal curriculum.

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Discovering joy Barney’s all-round education prioritises the intellectual, but appreciates that to play a full and fulfilling role in the future, every girl and boy should have the opportunity to develop physically, socially and spiritually.

The wider curriculum is integral to the Barney experience; through it many girls and boys discover and develop talents and even vocations that remain with them for life.

We believe in the value of our unparalleled Activity Programme which provides children with opportunities to build confidence, make friendships across year groups, enhance leadership, teamwork and communication skills and thoroughly enjoy themselves. With an eclectic selection of over 100 weekly activities from beginner’s mandolin to Maths puzzles, confirmation classes and rock-climbing, there is something for everyone.

Curricular learning is brought to life by local and overseas curricular trips led by our own teachers. Recently a group of geographers explored the volcanic ranges and glaciers of Iceland, while our historians went to Berlin, our classicists explored Greece and our musicians performed in Paris. As the world continues to shrink, we aim to give our girls and boys a sense of their place within it.

“I enjoyed running the Film Society with my friend Paddy Hill. Looking back we were quite entrepreneurial and tried some offbeat marketing methods.”

Angus Thirlwell (1974 – 1981), Co-Founder & CEO, Hotel Chocolat

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Sporting chances Sport is an important part of our curriculum and we aim to promote positive skills and attitudes through team sports as well as equip girls and boys with an awareness of the importance of sport for life.

Our sports coaches and resources are of the highest calibre and it is no surprise that School teams and individuals frequently compete at regional and national level; the School can count 40 internationals amongst its alumni.

Our outstanding sports scholars benefit from a Development Programme which introduces them to aspects of fitness, psychology, nutrition and sportsmanship, employing our own professionals and visiting experts.

Whatever their ability or aptitudes, both girls and boys can take advantage of first class, modern on-site facilities for a myriad of sports.

Whether it’s rugby or running, dancing or fencing, swimming or netball, we have something for everyone.

“The support I received both in the classroom and on the sports field was enormous. I developed as a rugby player due to the attention to detail and encouragement I received from the coaches there. My time at Barney will be some of my fondest memories especially the day I l e d t h e 1 s t X V o u t a t Tw i c k e n h a m o n m y 1 8 t h b i r t h d a y . �

Lee Dickson (1996 - 2003), Professional rugby player and England International

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Living as a community Barney is a busy place. Here our day pupils as well as our boarders benefit from the School’s strong boarding tradition and ethos, which means that we never close and there is a real feeling of being part of a vibrant extended family throughout the entire week.

Our boarding ethos means that our teachers and support staff are selfless with their time and have a sense of real vocation. They run many evening and weekend activities as well as an extraordinary range of camps, treks, tours and expeditions during the holidays.

Life at Barney is vibrant and concerts, quizzes and plays for the boarding and day pupils are sources of huge enjoyment which unite the School.

Chapel is a place of daily prayer with many pupils deriving huge satisfaction from singing in our excellent Chapel Choir which also sings Evensong in local Cathedrals.

Life at Barney feeds the mind, body and spirit.

“[pupils] mix readily across different age groups and, in the house and school peer support and mentor systems, older pupils have a more formal responsibility for the younger ones.”

Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011

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Contemplating the future As our girls and boys eventually begin to contemplate the Sixth Form, they become aware that it offers something which they have not yet experienced. Our Sixth Form is something unique and very special indeed. It provides unparalleled opportunities for not only academic

Telephone: +44 (0)1833 696030 School office: +44 (0)1833 690222 Email: admissions@barneyschool.org.uk www.barnardcastleschool.org.uk

but also personal development.

The Sixth Form Induction days give Year 11 girls and boys a sense of this and of their place and their potential as students rather than pupils, as young men and women rather than children, as leaders of our community.

“ T h e p u p i l s ’ attit u d e s to l e a r n i n g a r e o u tsta n d i n g .

T h r o u g h o u t t h e sc h oo l , p u p i l s a r e k e e n to w o r k a n d to s u cc e e d . ” Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011

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