Year 6
Our daughter loves school and the fact that the classes are small so she can really get the attention she needs and deserves! Every child needs a school like Barnard Castle!
Jacquelyn Martin
"In the past two years every pupil entered has passed into the Senior School and several awards have been won - academic, sporting and in music."
(Independent Schools Inspectorate 2011)
Year 6 children still have the safety and security of a class environment in refurbished classrooms with their own class identities but they also have the benefit of some subject teaching, both from Prep School and Senior School staff. This is seen as very much a preparation for entry into our Senior School to enable a noticeably smoother transfer. The children are encouraged to develop a sense of responsibility towards themselves and others by undertaking helpful tasks around the school.
Academic work is top priority with children encouraged to produce work of the highest standard according to their ability. The year is set for Mathematics and English to allow children to work at their own pace. As well as school exams, our Year 6 children all sit the Senior School Entrance Exam in February with a number of children receiving scholarships.
There are many more opportunities in Year 6 including a wider range of extra-curricular activities In their final year of Prep School, the children participate in the 4 day, 3 night trip to London and have the opportunity to enjoy other residential trips including a ski trip, a French trip, a weekend adventure holiday in addition to the termly excursions that enhance and further the classroom teaching to nearby places of interest.
Year 6 is seen very much as preparing our pupils for the transfer into our Senior School. Facilities such as the Swimming Pool, Sports Hall, ICT Suite, Chapel, Art/DT Block and Music School are all used regularly by Year 6. By the end of Prep School the children are very much looking forward, with confidence, to the next stage of their education.
