At Barnard Castle Preparatory School, we are committed to nurturing the whole child through a forward-thinking, academically rigorous curriculum that is rich in knowledge, skills, concepts, values, and transformative experiences.
Our vision for learning
Our innovative approach, enhanced by the Barney Education philosophy, ensures that every Preppie not only excels academically but also grows into a happy, articulate, and confident learner with a strong sense of self and an insatiable curiosity about our ever-evolving world.
Our curriculum is designed to ignite a passion for learning by engaging children with the unique knowledge and skills of each subject. Through a thematic, integrated approach, our Preppies will discover connections across disciplines, deepening their understanding and sparking their creativity.
We recognise the value of carefully curated, immersive experiences that foster an appreciation for diverse communities, both locally and globally. By exploring these connections, our Preppies will gain a broader perspective of the world around them.
Truly holistic development
At the heart of our curriculum is a strong focus on oracy, providing ample opportunities for effective communication. Preppies will engage in discussions, presentations, debates, and collaborative learning, empowering them to express their ideas, opinions, and emotions with clarity and confidence.
We are committed to teaching social, moral, spiritual, and cultural education, seamlessly weaving these themes throughout all subjects. This holistic approach helps cultivate inclusive, respectful global citizens who celebrate diversity and embrace different ethnicities and cultures.
Our curriculum is fully inclusive; we actively remove barriers to learning, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive and is challenged to reach their fullest potential. At Barney, we equip our Preppies not just for today, but for a lifetime of learning and growth in an interconnected world.
Computing & digital learning
As well as following our comprehensive computing curriculum, from coding and programming to how to use different Microsoft applications, our pupils also develop their digital skills within their other subjects. From Reception to Year 6, pupils have access to 2 banks of laptops and a large bank of iPads.
Children are shown effective ways to search the internet and then apply this to their research across the curriculum, this also includes weekly digital homework and takeaway projects, for example pupils may create an interactive quiz for their classmates, make a video to demonstrate their understanding of a topic or consolidate their learning in Mathematics and spellings for the week.
Driving digital innovation
At the start of each term and throughout, pupils set themselves goals within our unique ‘Apollo’ application. They also use this groundbreaking programme to share experiences they have had and are proud of, either in school or at home.
Both goal-setting and sharing experiences provide our pupils with the skills to become reflective learners, thinking about what went well and how they can improve further as they continue on their learning journey.
Apollo is used by pupils from Year 3 to Year 13 and forms part of the seamless transition when continuing from Prep School into Senior School.
Art & Design Technology
Our aim is to nurture our children’s creativity and foster a love for Art and Design Technology in both weekly lessons and our co-curricular programme. Pupils are introduced to a variety of art media and techniques, with topics often sharing cross-curricular links. Their finished work is displayed proudly around the School.
As part of the co-curricular programme, we have the “Imaginarium,” where pupils use their imagination to bring their ideas to life using an assortment of materials.
Pupils from Reception to year 6 can come along each evening to our dedicated Art department to try their hand, let their creative juices flow, and their imaginations run wild.
Cultivating creativity
As part of the Art and Design Technology curriculum, our pupils have access to the Senior School facilities. Years 5 and 6 are taught by Senior School specialists, whilst Years 3 and 4 are taught by Prep School specialists. In total, pupils receive 135 minutes of Art and Technology every week, from Year 3 upwards.
Food technology and sewing are covered in every year group throughout the School alongside other exciting projects. Both Art and Design Technology are very much part of our co-curricular programme, with Year 3 making their own paints using natural materials and creating cave paintings as part of their studies on the Stone Age.
Year 4 embraces the Arts and Crafts movement in their studies of William Morris, producing their own botanical designs for wallpaper and soft furnishings. Year 5 make their own Tudor ‘torture’ devices using gears and pulleys, and Year 6 design and build wooden planes as part of their History topic.
Music
We believe that music is a vital part of every child’s education, fostering creativity, confidence, and teamwork, and this is exemplified by our music department ethos: ‘Every child is a musician’.
Our Prep School Music programme provides an engaging musical journey from Reception through to Year 6, inspiring pupils to develop their musical skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Music is a core part of the Prep School curriculum, with all pupils receiving two class music lessons per week delivered by specialist teachers. Our lessons encourage active participation, creativity, and a love for music through singing, playing instruments, and exploring different musical styles.
The universal language
Pupils in Year 2 learn the recorder, and all pupils in Years 3 to 6 learn a brass instrument as part of our ‘class brass’ scheme. Pupils also develop key musical skills, including rhythm, pitch, and notation, and engage in group music-making to build confidence and teamwork.
We offer a wealth of opportunities for pupils to showcase their talents throughout the year, helping them to build confidence and enjoy the thrill of live performance. These include:
- Termly concerts featuring solo and ensemble performances
- The Prep School Carol Service and Pre-Prep Nativity
- Year Group Productions, combining singing and acting
- Regular Teatime Concerts give young musicians a platform to develop performance skills in a relaxed setting
Drama
From their earliest years in Prep School, our children are given many opportunities to perform in front of other pupils, parents and friends. We believe this early yet age-appropriate introduction within a supportive and encouraging atmosphere helps to build confidence and self-esteem from a young age.
By the end of their first term in Reception, Pre-Prep children take part in a Nativity, with parts becoming progressively more challenging as they get older. They also perform together in an Easter concert for parents.
Children in Years 3 and 4 perform on stage to full houses in a two-night musical production every Lent Term in the Atkinson Hall, with costume, make-up, sound and lighting.
In the Trinity Term, it is the turn of the Year 5 and 6 pupils to produce a musical that is staged in Big School. Costumes, make-up, microphones and a professional sound and lighting system all make this more than just a school play.
In addition, each Prep School class gets to host a whole-school assembly and many children lead prayers or read lessons every Wednesday in Chapel as well as at special services such as Harvest Festival, Founders’ Day and Christmas Carol Services.
