Barnard Castle School is a leading independent day and boarding school set amid stunning countryside in Northern England. ‘Barney’, as we are affectionately known, provides an exceptional all-round education, with a broad and balanced curriculum, first class facilities and excellent pastoral care within a happy, family environment for boys and girls aged between 4 and 18.
Parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus:
“When you are steeped in little things, you shall attempt great things safely.”
Welcome to Barnard Castle School. Though formally known by that name, we hope you will soon call us what we call ourselves: Barney.
Barney is more than just a school. It is a place where young people are encouraged to grow in every direction, not just academically but personally, socially and emotionally. We are proud to help students become both well-rounded and well-grounded, ready for whatever path they choose to take next.
We believe that success does not come from avoiding mistakes, but from learning how to respond to them. This is a school that values effort, resilience and determination. We encourage our students to try, to fail, and to try again. That is how they grow.
We also believe that who you are matters just as much as what you know. Character is built in the quiet moments, through kindness, respect and a willingness to persevere. We want every pupil to discover their own strengths and to feel safe and supported to keep going when things are difficult.
And while we take what we do seriously, we do not take ourselves too seriously. Laughter is part of life at Barney, and we believe that having fun is essential to flourishing. It is possible to aim high while enjoying the journey, and our students do both.
Our motto says: Parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus. “When you are steeped in little things, you shall attempt great things safely.”
Everything we do at Barney is rooted in a simple equation: Community + Character = Ambition.
We hope you enjoy exploring the website. More importantly, we hope you will come and experience the real thing for yourself.
Through creating an inspirational, compassionate and unpretentious environment, the School develops young adults with character, where each child is nurtured and encouraged to develop their full potential.
‘Barnardians’ are happy, confident, resilient, intellectually curious, tolerant and driven, with an undercurrent of humility, who are ready and prepared to face, embrace and lead in an ever-changing world.
At Barney, we tell our pupils that academic success will only open a door; it is what they do when they walk through that door that counts.
As such, the School prides itself on a comprehensive co-curricular programme, offering more than 100 activities to pupils each week, as it is in these environments where most life lessons are learned, which help prepare young people for the ever-changing workplace.
Barnard Castle School’s ethos of openness means that it welcomes parents, former pupils and friends of Barney to join its community, and encourages families to visit and experience for themselves the welcoming and happy atmosphere.
Situated in an excellent rural environment, Barnard Castle School is well served by a range of transport links, with several airports and railway stations close by.
Furthermore, Barney has educated many notable former students (known as ‘Old Barnardians’), counting professional athletes, television personalities as well as entrepreneurs and business leaders among its alumni.
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