Key Facts
| School Type | Co-educational independent day and boarding school |
|---|---|
| Age Range | 4-18 years |
| Location | Barnard Castle, County Durham |
| Total Pupils | Approximately 698 students |
| Day Fees | £2,988 - £5,665 per term (at time of writing) |
| Boarding Fees | £8,580 - £10,810 per term (at time of writing) |
| Entry Points | 11+ (Year 7), 13+ (Year 9), Sixth Form |
| Scholarships | Academic, arts, music, drama, and sports scholarships available |
| 11+ entrance exam | English, Mathematics (School's own) |
| Offers | within three weeks of sitting the exams |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Barnard Castle School's 11+ entrance exam, the Entrance Assessment Day, combines English and mathematics tests with an interview and is sat each year in January of Year 6. It is the route into Year 7 for prospective pupils.
About Barnard Castle School
Barnard Castle is an independent school in County Durham, founded on Methodist principles and set on a campus of around fifty acres. Pupil numbers stand at close to 700.
The entrance exam
The Entrance Assessment Day tests candidates in English and mathematics, alongside an interview, with all elements set and assessed internally by the school. A separate, longer set of three assessments applies to entry into Years 8 to 10, and scholarship assessments run as a distinct route with their own arrangements. Because the school sets its own papers, exact content can vary; families should treat the outline below as a guide to the usual format, confirmed each year on the school's admissions pages.
- English: A comprehension test and a written test lasting 60 minutes in total
- Mathematics: A competency test lasting 60 minutes
Registration and key dates
Registration is described by the school as rolling, with no fixed opening or closing date published, though early registration is advised. The assessment itself is sat each year in January of Year 6, with an interview also forming part of the process, and offers usually follow within three weeks of the sitting. Families should check the key facts table on this page for the current admissions timetable, since exact dates are confirmed on the school's own admissions pages.
- Registration: opens on a rolling basis, with early registration advised and no fixed closing date published
- Assessment Day: sat each year in January of Year 6
- Interview: takes place as part of the assessment day
- Offers: issued within three weeks of the assessment
Current dates are in the key facts table at the top of this page, taken from the school's own admissions pages below, which remain the reference for each round.
Past papers and familiarisation
Barnard Castle does not publish past papers or sample materials for the Entrance Assessment Day on its admissions pages, so families cannot rely on school-issued practice material for this exam. Since the format covers a comprehension and written English test alongside a mathematics competency paper, both within a 60-minute allowance, preparation for this type of assessment generally focuses on timed reading and writing exercises and on applying core arithmetic and reasoning skills under time pressure, in the way any Year 6 pupil would build for a school-set 11+ paper.
Preparing with Taylor Tuition
Families preparing for the Barnard Castle 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.
More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.
Families in the North of England and further afield work with us online, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.
Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Barnard Castle School 11+ entrance exam involve?
- The Entrance Assessment Day consists of tests in English and mathematics, together with an interview. The English component combines a comprehension test and a written test within a 60-minute allowance, while the mathematics paper is a 60-minute competency test. All papers are set and marked internally by the school, not by an external examination board.
- When does the 11+ exam take place and when should we register?
- The assessment is held each year in January of Year 6, with offers usually issued within three weeks of the sitting. Registration is described by the school as rolling, with no fixed closing date published, so early registration is advised. Current dates are confirmed on the school's admissions pages.
- Does the school publish past papers for the 11+ entrance exam?
- No past papers or sample materials for the Entrance Assessment Day are published on the school's admissions pages. Families preparing for this format generally focus on timed comprehension and written English exercises, alongside mathematics questions that test core number and reasoning skills, since these mirror the two components of the actual assessment.
- How hard is the 11+ exam and how should a child prepare?
- Since the school does not publish a pass mark or detailed marking guidance, difficulty is hard to state precisely; preparation tends to focus on building confidence with timed English and mathematics papers of the type described on the admissions pages. Practising comprehension, written responses and competency-style mathematics under a 60-minute limit reflects the actual format most closely.
- What type of school is Barnard Castle?
- Barnard Castle is a co-educational independent day and boarding school.
Enquire about 11+ preparation
Start your enquiryEditorial Notice
We use automated research tools to help collate and maintain information across our website. While each post is reviewed before publication, some details may be incomplete or inaccurate.
Free 11+ familiarisation pack
English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with mark schemes.
Taylor Tuition
Educational Consultancy
Contributing expert insights on education, exam preparation, and effective learning strategies to help students reach their full potential.