Newgate, Barnard Castle DL12 8UW
10 reasons to choose Barnard Castle Preparatory School
Top line
Barnard Castle Preparatory School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 84. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Barnard Castle and one of the 3 best primary schools for 5 miles.
School fundamentals
Barnard Castle Preparatory School is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys and girls (60%/40%) between the ages of 4 and 11 years. Boarding from Year 3 for the 10% of pupils who board. All are full boarders. It is a Christian school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is the prep school to Barnard Castle School, an all-through school to age 18. Barnard Castle Preparatory School fees range from £3,280 (Rec) to £4,850 per term (2024/25). Full boarding fees are £9,270 per term. Fees exclude VAT but include lunches.
Average class size
Barnard Castle Preparatory School has two classes per year and an average class size of 13 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
At the end of Year 6 most Prep School pupils move up to Barnard Castle School.
The Barnard Castle Preparatory School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and also includes PSHCEE, French. Topic based curriculum for foundation subjects to Year 2. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups and visiting speakers. Forest School for Early Years and Years 1, 3 and 5. ‘Big Sleepover’ in Year 3. Adventure and cultural residential trips from Year 4. The school also has Eco Schools Green Flag accreditation.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music and languages throughout, for art and computing from Year 3, and for most subjects from Year 5.
Sport at Barnard Castle Preparatory School
School offers between 10 and 15 different sports over the course of the year. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3.
The Arts at Barnard Castle Preparatory School
Art and music are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. Drama is taught from Year 6, otherwise it is supported through the co-curriculum. All pupils learn an instrument in class and half take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. 4 choirs (pre-prep, junior, chapel and harmony), orchestra and four instrument ensembles. There are some extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 7.30am to 6.00pm. Facility for occasional boarding.
Find another school near Barnard Castle Preparatory School
Durham High School for Girls, Junior House (24.1 miles); The Chorister School (26.7 miles); Aysgarth School (29.8 miles); Queen Mary’s School, Prep & Pre-Prep (39.2 miles).
Montalbo Nursery & Primary School (1.2 miles); Cotherstone Primary School (4.3 miles); Staindrop Church of England Primary School (6.3 miles).
Barnard Castle School (0 miles); Durham High School for Girls (24.1 miles); Durham School (25.6 miles); Sedbergh School (34.9 miles).
Teesdale School (1.2 miles); St John’s School & Sixth Form College – A Catholic Academy (14 miles); St Francis Xavier School (14.5 miles).