Families looking to enrol their children in Senior School are assured of a warm welcome and a positive experience as you progress through the admissions process.
Senior School admissions
Whether you are looking at entry into our popular Years 7 and 9, or moving at different entry points, we want your child’s journey to be as smooth and effortless as possible.
We offer multiple opportunities throughout the year to see Barney in action at Open Mornings. In addition, you can also enjoy a personal meeting with our Headmaster, David Cresswell, on a separate occasion. During a private visit, you will experience the calm of a normal school day as well as the opportunity to discuss your child’s learning journey and hear more about the vision and values of the School.
How to apply
Once you have seen the School, met with staff and students and are happy to progress, you can complete and submit an Admissions Registration Form. Early registration is advised.
To proceed with an application, we require the following information:
- A completed registration form
- A £108 registration fee or £216 for non-UK passport holders
- A copy of the pupil’s birth certificate or passport
- Copy of the most recent school report
- Educational Psychology reports, specialist assessment reports, psychometric testing or medical diagnostic reports
Why not sign up today? Download and fill out your registration form, and our expert Registrars will arrange your visit.
Entrance assessments
Your child will be invited in for our Entrance Assessment Day, which is held each year in January.
As a school of broad entry, entrance assessments help us understand two key things:
- That your child can successfully access the curriculum
- The class they would be best suited for in English and Maths, considering their ability
On Entrance Assessment Day, there are two assessments for children entering Year 7, and three assessments for children applying to join Years 8 to 10.
Year 7 assessments
- English: A comprehension test and a written test lasting 60 minutes in total
- Mathematics: A competency test lasting 60 minutes
Year 8-10 assessments
- English: A comprehension test and a written test lasting 60 minutes in total
- Mathematics: A competency test lasting 30 minutes
- A Computer Adaptive Baseline Test (MidYIS/Yellis): A test lasting 45 minutes, divided into verbal, numerical and perceptual sections.
The award of places is also linked to the following:
- Previous school report
- Existing interests and activities
- The desire to join Barnard Castle School
Results of Entrance Exams are confidential to the School. Offers of places are normally sent by letter within three weeks of sitting the exams. The School uses the Entrance Exam results to determine whether the candidate is able to access the curriculum appropriately and whether the School can meet the candidate’s educational needs.
Those candidates who are unable to sit the School Entrance Exam can be examined at another mutually convenient time in the academic year.
Prospective parents should be aware that the School has a range of important policy documents to share with current parents, pupils and staff. These include policies on child protection, counter-bullying, including cyber-bullying, the complaints procedure, and the rewards and sanctions procedures. These are available on request and to download from the website.
Note: If your child has educational and pastoral needs, parents must provide any available additional information , such as educational psychology reports, specialist assessment reports, psychometric testing or medical diagnostic reports at the Registration stage, to ensure we can properly support your child’s learning journey. Failure to do so is in breach of our Parent Contract.
Community · Character · Ambition
Community that lasts a lifetime
Barney is a down-to-earth, inclusive community where laughter matters and friendship runs deep. From our vibrant boarding houses to the daily rhythm of school life, this is a place where everyone belongs and everyone contributes. The bonds formed here last a lifetime, and the culture of support and belonging stays with our students long after they leave.
Explore Barney Open Events
