“Leaders of the school have transformed pupils’ attitudes towards learning.” Ofsted – January 2018
Barnwell serves the communities of South Stevenage and the surrounding villages although many students also travel from further afield to Barnwell for their education. The School is unique in the area as it is situated on two campuses allowing the school to be structured as a Middle and Upper School. What we offer is unique in Stevenage and North Hertfordshire.
Both the Middle and Upper School are very distinctive and are personalised to the ages of the students they serve but both are underpinned by the same expectations and high standards that originate from Barnwell School’s vision.
Our Middle School offers personalisation and a small friendly atmosphere created by our highly acclaimed College structure. This coupled with the wide choice of subjects offered by the Upper School for our Key Stage 4 and Sixth Form students, combine to create a unique educational experience where students benefit from the best of both worlds. Both schools have a very strong pastoral system, which ensures that students are well motivated and demonstrate excellent behaviour in classrooms and around the schools.
We also understand that school is about more that just simply qualifications, so we offer a vibrant and wide programme of extra curricular activities, believing that such opportunities allow students to forge strong relationships with each other and with their teachers, thus helping them to develop their potential even further. Like all good schools, we work to ensure that all students make outstanding progress, both academically and socially.
The schools are friendly, vibrant and forward-looking communities and we are always happy to welcome visitors whether they are a prospective student, parent or simply wish to learn more about the school.
Barnwell Middle School
Barnwell Middle School is the only school in Stevenage and North Hertfordshire that specialises in the education of 11-14 year olds.
Our thriving community of children and adults exists to help every child make the most of his/her abilities in a stimulating and supportive environment. Our aims are simple but profound:
To ensure they achieve their maximum learning potential.
To help each individual make the transition to our Upper School
To equip them to meet the challenges the future holds as a responsible member of society.
Barnwell Middle School campus is structured around our College system, where each student is a member of one of three Colleges for both curriculum and tutorial development and support. This ‘small school’ approach places every child at the heart of a small community of learning, with approximately 200 students in each College.
Our success is built on solid foundations. As we begin the next exciting chapter of the school’s development, our principles will remain as strong as ever. We aim to become a centre of excellence in developing new courses and achieving outstanding results for all 11-14 year olds, helping students achieve their very best as enthusiastic, respectful and life-long learners.
We recognise that the transition from primary school is a hugely important moment in a child’s life. That is why we work closely with local primary schools to ensure students make a happy and successful transfer from Year 6. Our Head of Transitions spends significant amounts of time visiting primary schools so we can get to know the younger children and make sure they enjoy and benefit from the move to Barnwell.
We are extremely proud of Barnwell Middle School and passionate about securing the very best educational opportunities for our students. The staff are dedicated, enthusiastic and work together as an outstanding team.
We have fostered a happy atmosphere in the school that is grounded on strong principles of respect and shared endeavour and where good behaviour is expected at all times from all of our members.
Barnwell Upper School
At Barnwell we never forget that the upper school years are a critically important and formative time for each student. Building on strong links with the Middle School at Key Stage 3, our main aim is to ensure that all students continue to achieve their academic potential and enjoy school life. This is supported by the rich extra-curricular provision, which helps students grow as individuals.
We are committed to providing diverse and exciting experiences for our students; and staff are generous with their time and expertise. An innovative and personalised curriculum meets the needs of all students.
The Upper School offers an academic curriculum of many different GCSE courses and A level courses, as well as a highly acclaimed vocational curriculum which is the envy of many schools. Our range of courses is much broader than would normally be possible in a traditional 11-18 school, and unlike many schools our students benefit from a high level of flexibility in terms of course combinations that they are able to study.
This means that our students can experience the widest possible range of learning and training opportunities. Highly effective and specialised supported personalised learning is available for students who need that little extra help with their studies. Many enrichment opportunities are offered in all subjects.
We encourage our students to have high expectations and aspirations in the pursuit of success. We strive for excellence in terms of exam results but also recognise that there is much more to life and to education than just results. New opportunities enhance many aspects of well-being. The school and its students have a responsibility to each other to try new things and broaden horizons. We have a wide range of extra-curricular activities in the areas of mathematics, English, science, technology, sport, performing arts, leadership and enterprise which help develop social interaction and life-long skills.
Every student is carefully steered towards academic success, personal development and individual achievement. We are committed to provide the best for all students, regardless of ability. We make learning stimulating, challenging and fun, creating a positive environment in which students want to achieve their best. We are very keen to work with parents and carers and recognise that your role is crucial to a child’s success and happiness.
Our outstanding Sixth Form Centre provides a great opportunity for our students to extend their education through academic and vocational courses. This allows them to gain necessary skills and qualifications to further their education or seek employment. We encourage our students to fulfil their aspirations and make the most of the knowledge available to them. Our Sixth Form students also take advantage of exemplary support and guidance in order to excel. The Sixth Form Centre has a study block, social area, exclusive teaching rooms and an outstanding ICT suite.