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Barney Goal Setting Morning

One of the hallmarks of a Barney Education is our commitment to personalised care. Every year, each of our students benefits from at least five one-to-one sessions with their House Tutor, providing dedicated time to discuss their academic progress, personal development, and co-curricular involvement.

Twice a year, we pause our regular timetable for dedicated Goal Setting Mornings. These invaluable sessions—held at the beginning of the academic year and again at the halfway point—offer pupils a chance to reflect on their achievements, assess their current position, and set clear objectives for the future. To support this process, students utilise our bespoke Apollo software, which allows them to track and monitor their progress against their individual goals.

Beyond their one-to-one meetings, pupils have been actively engaged in a diverse range of activities. These have included team-building exercises, a Headspace talk from OB Theo Colley (Tees ’12), and for Year 9s, a GCSE Options presentation delivered by Mr O’Connor, complemented by a taster session in Business Studies.

Our exam-year students have been dedicating time to silent study, ensuring focused preparation for their upcoming assessments, while Year 12s have taken their first steps towards university applications following an insightful Post-18 opportunities launch presentation from our Head of Higher Education, Mr Alderson.

Additionally, pupils have participated in small listening groups, a new initiative designed to amplify student voice. These discussions, facilitated by our outstanding Year 13 Prefect Team, provide a valuable forum for pupils to share their experiences, insights, and ideas.

Through these initiatives, Barney continues to foster a culture of reflection, ambition, and student-centred support, ensuring every pupil is equipped to reach their full potential.

If you’re interested in learning more about our education offering, you can sign up to one of our Open Events here: Open Events – Barnard Castle School