Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions

In the first instance, we would always encourage you to fill in our Enquiry Form, sign up for an Open Event, send us an email, or pick up the telephone; we always love to hear from you! Our friendly Admissions team will then guide you through the application process, including tours, Experience Days, and interviews.

We urge families to apply as early as possible, particularly for key entry points (Reception, Year 3, Year 7, Year 10 and Year 12), where demand can be high. However, we are always happy to hear from prospective families throughout the year and do usually have places available in other year groups.

If you would like to find out more or discuss availability, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Admissions Team via our Enquiry Form.

Barnard Castle is an academically non-selective school; however, our aim is always to ensure that each child will be happy, supported, and able to thrive within our community.

The admissions process varies slightly depending on the year group of entry and whether you are applying as a UK or International student, however, general steps will include:

Step 1: Simply fill in our Enquiry Form, send us an email, or pick up the telephone: +44 (0)1833 690222.

Step 2: Attend an Open Event or arrange a private visit.

Step 3: Complete the Registration Form and pay the Registration fee. We will require uploads of your child’s passport, latest school report, and, if applicable, medical and SEND reports at this stage.

Step 4: Invitation for Experience Day. This will include assessments and an interview with our Headmaster or with a member of our Senior Leadership Team.

Step 5: You’ll receive an official Offer, Parent Contract, and make payment of the Acceptance Deposit.

Step 6: Welcome to Barney!

Although this process can first appear daunting, we have a professional and friendly admissions team who will guide and support you through the process.

We understand that some families will want to take time to consider this decision and will be looking much earlier than when they wish their child to join, and other families will be working with a very short turnaround timeframe. The above process is designed to ensure we can work with families at their speed. We would ask families who would like their child to apply for a scholarship to enquire early, as scholarships, entrance days, and assessments occur in the year before entry. Please see further information about scholarships and bursaries below.

Yes. We understand that families sometimes relocate or seek a change of school during the academic year, and we are always happy to consider applications outside the usual entry points where places are available.

Please contact our Admissions Team, who will be delighted to talk through the options with you.

We encourage every prospective student to attend an Experience Day where possible, arranged at a time convenient for each family.

Experience Days provide an opportunity for children to experience the true magic of a normal day at Barney, meeting current students, taking part in lessons and activities, and getting a genuine feel for life within our School community. They are also a wonderful opportunity for students to build confidence and excitement ahead of joining the School.

School fees at Barnard Castle School are designed to include as much as possible within one clear fee, allowing students to make the most of the many opportunities available to them.

Extras may include:

• Daily bus service
• Airport transfers
• Individual music lessons
• Some trips and residential visits
• Examination fees
• Optional activities
• Boarding (where applicable)

A full list of fees and optional extras can be found here.

Lunch and snacks are included for all students (breakfast and tea are included in addition for boarders). 

Food is such an important part of school life and plays a vital role in supporting both learning and wellbeing. 

Our catering team provides a delicious and varied menu, developed alongside a nutritionist, with healthy options available daily and careful consideration given to dietary requirements and allergies.  

Throughout the year, students also enjoy themed food days and tasting sessions, helping to encourage curiosity about food, nutrition, and different cuisines in a fun and engaging way.

We offer a wide range of scholarships for students entering Year 9 and above who demonstrate exceptional talent or potential in areas such as:

• Academic achievement
• Sport
• Music
• Drama
• Art
• All-round contribution

Scholarships are designed to recognise and nurture individual strengths, while encouraging students to continue developing their talents throughout their time at Barney.

To learn more or to apply for a Scholarship, please click here.

Means-tested bursaries may be available to families who would benefit from financial assistance with school fees.

Bursaries are awarded based on a family’s financial circumstances and are reviewed regularly. We understand that every family’s situation is different, and conversations regarding financial support are always handled with sensitivity and confidentiality.

Families interested in applying are warmly encouraged to contact the Finance Team for further guidance. Please email: finance@barneyschool.org.uk.

Scholarships are awarded in recognition of talent, achievement, or potential, while bursaries are means-tested financial awards designed to support families who may not otherwise be able to afford the fees.

In some cases, students may receive both a scholarship and a bursary award.

Yes. Fees can be paid termly or through approved monthly payment plans, helping families to choose the arrangement that works best for them.

If you would like further information, our Admissions Team would be delighted to put you in touch with the Finance Department. Please email: finance@barneyschool.org.uk.

Barney has a long and proud association with Forces families and offers a supportive, understanding environment that recognises the unique challenges military life can sometimes bring.

Our Houseparents and Matrons have extensive experience supporting children throughout their time at school, providing a stable, consistent, and nurturing environment in which students feel safe, valued, and at home.

This care extends through our Barney Forces Family (BFF), our ‘family within the family’ where children from Armed Forces backgrounds can connect with one another, build friendships, and enjoy shared experiences together.

Learn more about our CEA+ offering for Forces Families here.

Our boarding family is a wonderful community of students from a variety of countries, with the largest percentage coming from UK-based families. Many of our boarding students live in the local area, preferring to board and ‘beat the bus’, where they use the time saved on school bus travel to practice music, sports, or complete additional study, both before and after school.

Families can choose from a range of boarding options to support modern life, including full boarding, weekly boarding, and flexi boarding.

As a Boarding School, Barney is never closed during the school terms, as we always have children living with us on-site in their boarding houses. This means we can provide busy working parents with flexible options such as day boarding, where your child can stay at school until 9 p.m. on those days you may have to work later or get stuck on the train. Equally, if you need to attend a work conference or family wedding over a weekend, you can book your child into boarding. The fees can be found here.

The ‘family feel’ is undeniable across each of our three Boarding Houses and, despite a healthy competition between them, there is a togetherness amongst our boarders, which sums up the Barney community. Senior students will often be found mentoring and coaching younger students, and everyone is made to feel at home in an inclusive, integrated environment.

We would encourage you to experience our Boarding Houses for yourself, either by exploring our virtual school tour, attending an Open Day, or booking a private tour.

Absolutely! Students considering boarding are encouraged to stay overnight as part of their Experience Day. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience daily life at Barney, make friends, and discover the warm and welcoming community within our boarding family.

Barney is a welcoming community to all students, and we believe that our diversity brings huge strength to that community. For UK students, it offers them friends with different perspectives and backgrounds. For international students, Barney offers a safe and secure environment to immerse themselves in learning and also in English culture.

Barney is currently home to students from across the world, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China, Hong Kong, and Chile, to name a few. With students staying anywhere from a few weeks to many years. Our international students receive additional pastoral and academic support to help them settle quickly and confidently into School life.

We understand how important it is for families to know their child’s journey arrangements are in safe and reliable hands, particularly for our younger international students. Barney is pleased to offer a carefully managed airport transfer service through a trusted local taxi company experienced in transporting students to and from the School. Our closest airports are Newcastle, Teesside, Leeds Bradford, and Manchester Airport.

To arrange an airport pickup or drop-off, please email your child’s flight details to: transport@barneyschool.org.uk. Wherever possible, we will coordinate shared transfers for students arriving at similar times and airports, helping students feel welcomed and supported from the moment they arrive in the UK.

We have one of the most comprehensive transport services of any independent school in the UK, which collects hundreds of our students from a wide radius to take them to School and back home at the end of the day. With 10 dedicated bus routes, Barney is connected to cities, towns, and villages across the North East, Yorkshire, and Cumbria.

You can find the most up-to-date information on our Bus Routes here.

Our extended day provision is designed to give families flexibility, while ensuring students are engaged, supported, and enjoying their time at School.

Students are welcome to join us for breakfast, and there is a wide range of clubs and activities available after the school day.

Life at Barney is about far more than just lessons. Our co-curricular programme is designed to help students discover who they are, what they love, and how they can contribute, both to the school community and to the world beyond it.

With over 100 co-curricular opportunities across the School, students can enjoy an incredibly broad programme of activities, whether on the sports field, on the stage, in the art room, exploring the surrounding Yorkshire countryside, or on the parade square.

The vast majority of our clubs are included in the school fees. Extra fees are required for individual music and LAMDA lessons. These costs can be found here.

All students are expected to wear the School Uniform, helping to create a strong sense of community and belonging from their very first day at Barney.

Our Uniform Guides provide a clear checklist of the items required based on year group and gender. Uniform can be purchased through our approved supplier, School Blazer.  All you need to do is have your child’s year group and measurements at the ready and it will generate a list of the required uniform for you.

With an option for name tags to be not only included, but also pre-sewn before delivery of your items, we have found that parents really value this easy online option for brand new uniform.

If you would like second-hand or pre-loved uniform options, please visit the ‘Barnard Castle School Uniform‘ Facebook group. This is a group run by parents, for parents, and has no official affiliation with the School.

Lunch and snacks are provided for all students as part of the school day, so there is no need to bring a packed lunch unless agreed with the School for a specific reason. Mid-morning snack includes juice, biscuits, and fruit.

Our Catering Team prepares a varied and nutritious menu each day, developed alongside a nutritionist and designed to support students’ health, wellbeing, and learning. We are also happy to cater for allergies, dietary requirements, and cultural preferences wherever possible.

Starting a new school is a big step, and it is completely natural for both children and parents to wonder how friendships will develop.

Our staff take the time to get to know every student as an individual and work hard to help new children settle quickly into life at Barney. Whether through tutor groups, Houses, boarding, clubs, or our extensive co-curricular programme, there are countless opportunities for students to meet others with similar interests and build lasting friendships.

If a child needs a little extra support, our Pastoral Team will work closely with both the student and their family to ensure they feel happy, confident, and fully part of the Barney community. Communication plays such an important role in ensuring our students and families are happy and we would always encourage families to reach out and discuss any concerns they might have. There is nothing too big or too small to share with us.

Education is most successful when schools and families work together.

Parents receive regular updates on their child’s academic progress through reports, Parents’ Evenings, and ongoing communication with teachers. We encourage parents to stay in touch, and our staff are always happy to discuss a child’s progress, celebrate successes, and work together to support them if additional help is needed.

Barnard Castle School is a broad entry school, which means we welcome students of varied natural abilities. This means we focus on the individual child and help to support them to reach their full potential.

We have students who are highly academic and achieve straight A’s at A Levels, leaving us prepared to attend the top Universities in the country. We also have students for whom academics is something they need to work at with guidance and support from our teaching staff. They may not achieve straight A’s, but we work hard as a school on our value-added results, which means we will support your child to reach the results they can achieve.

One of our main values as a school is academic ambition, and you can read more about this here.

Please visit this page for our recent results and leavers’ destinations.

We are committed to creating a school community where every child feels safe, respected, and valued.

Bullying is never tolerated at Barney. Any concerns are taken seriously, investigated promptly, and managed with care following our clear anti-bullying procedures.

Our focus is not only on responding quickly when concerns arise, but also on creating a culture of kindness, respect, and inclusion where positive relationships flourish. Through strong pastoral care, dedicated wellbeing support, and close partnerships with families, we work proactively to ensure every student feels they belong and has someone they can turn to if they need help.

Pastoral care and student wellbeing sit at the heart of everything we do. Every student is supported by a dedicated network of staff who work closely with families to ensure children feel happy, confident, and well supported throughout their time at Barney.

The School also has a dedicated Wellbeing Centre featuring medical treatment, recovery, and counselling suites, alongside two full-time nurses and access to a counselling service.

The average teacher-to-student ratio across the School is 1:8, with class sizes intentionally kept small to allow staff to know our students well and provide individual attention, encouragement, and support.

Families are warmly invited to attend one of our Open Events or arrange a private tour during the school day.

Visiting is the very best way to experience the atmosphere of the School, meet students and staff, and gain a real sense of the warmth and spirit of the Barney community.

If you are overseas or live further away and cannot visit us, we can arrange online meetings to help you get to know the school.

Our friendly Admissions Team is always happy to help and guide families through every stage of the admissions journey. We fundamentally believe that there is no such thing as a silly question when it comes to choosing the right school for your child and we would be delighted to help.

To get in touch with the team you can fill in our quick Enquiry Form, send us an email, or pick up the phone +44 (0)1833 690222. We always love to hear from you!