As the Michaelmas Term gathers pace, the Barney community came together in Chapel this morning for an assembly that blended celebration, reflection, and a powerful message about mental health.
A week to reflect and support one another
Opening Mental Health Awareness Week, Headmaster, David Cresswell, spoke about the importance of looking after our minds – the “lens” through which we see and experience everything. “Giving your mind the best chance to be healthy is really important,” he said, encouraging pupils to recognise that mental health exists on a spectrum, and that it’s entirely normal to experience highs, lows, and everything in between.
He reminded us that one of the most valuable steps we can take is simply to talk: to share how we’re feeling and to let others know when things are difficult. “I have days when I’m more emotionally heightened than others,” he admitted candidly, “and I try to let the right people know when that’s the case. It makes it more likely that those around me will be able to help.”
Drawing on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, he quoted: “Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,” and linked this to a concept shared by one of our own Head Boy, Seb: Event + Reaction = Outcome – a reminder that how we respond to challenges often defines their impact.
The Headmaster also shared the moving story of one of his past pupils at another school, Dinal, a remarkable young man whose life was tragically cut short after facing online exploitation. His story, the Headmaster said, is a reminder that there is nothing we cannot overcome together, and that help and hope are always within reach.
Celebrating success and community spirit
While the focus was on mental wellbeing, the assembly also celebrated the many achievements of our pupils, reflecting the strength, talent, and teamwork that lie at the heart of school life.
RAF Leeming visit:
Our CCF cadets continue to earn praise wherever they go. Most recently, six cadets at RAF Leeming received outstanding feedback for their conduct and enthusiasm an achievement the Headmaster described as “making such a good impression.”
Sporting highlights:
- In Judo, Isabel G earned a gold medal at the regional qualifier, securing her place at the National Schools Championships in Sheffield next year.
- In Hockey, a remarkable number of pupils were selected to represent Durham County Hockey, from Year 7 through to Year 12 – a testament to both individual excellence and the school’s thriving hockey programme.
- The U15 rugby team’s match against RGS Lancaster and a windy boarders’ golf day also received a mention, highlighting the determination and good humour that characterise Barney sport.
Music, reflection, and hope
The Chapel also became a space for artistic reflection, with Elodie L earning distinction in her ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory exam, and Max performing Chopin’s Nocturne No.1 in Bb Minor. The Headmaster explained how the piece’s final Tierce de Picardie – a shift from minor to major – symbolises light after darkness: “the end of the stormy night, and the beginning of a new day full of hope.”
A shared commitment
The assembly concluded with a prayer, a call for courage, compassion, and community:
“Help us to build a spirit of trust, where every voice can be heard and every heart can find comfort… No challenge is too great, and no concern too small, when we face it together.”
As Mental Health Awareness Week continues, the Headmaster’s message remains clear: at Barnard Castle School, no one faces life’s challenges alone – because together, we can overcome anything.
