Academic LifeOur philosophy and approach

We encourage children to set their sights high. We work to ensure that pupils flourish academically, socially and emotionally, enjoying a broad range of academic and co-curricular learning, social and enrichment activities and, very importantly, having great fun.

Our pupils excel academically from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to 11+ and 13+ examinations and scholarships. Much of this success stems from their genuine love of learning. We believe that quiet self-confidence grows from a deep connection with an area of personal interest.

We introduce specialist teaching from the age of two, ensuring that passions are discovered and developed early. Our sports, foreign language, computing and arts teachers work with children from the Early Years onwards. In addition, we offer a comprehensive co-curricular programme from the earliest stages of a child’s journey, giving pupils the agency to explore and deepen their individual interests and talents.

We believe that fostering quiet confidence and self-motivation equips our pupils to “achieve greater things” as they develop their life skills with us.

How do we achieve this?

We underpin rigorous academic outcomes with excellent, supportive pastoral care. Every child is not only known at Barrow Hills, but truly seen and understood. From hobbies and friendships to cognitive development, our Form Tutors serve as a cornerstone of guidance, supported by senior pastoral staff in each section of the school. Our enthusiastic Year 7 and Year 8 pupils act as exemplary role models for younger children through our House system and in everyday school life.

Character and skills development complement academic progress. Our key principles – being connected, active, compassionate, scholarly and curious – are woven consistently throughout our curriculum planning, reward systems and form times.

We believe that the development of human skills is as integral to a forward-looking curriculum as knowledge and concepts, and parents see this philosophy brought to life during our weekly celebration assemblies.

We encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own learning within a supportive environment. Interactive, well-planned lessons and homework tasks, introduced from Pre-Prep, alongside purposeful use of technology, provide a strong scaffold for success.

Within lessons, pupils are encouraged to explore topics in greater depth and develop higher-order thinking skills. Older pupils also participate in timetabled ‘thinking skills’ lessons. Across subjects – from maths and geography to Forest School – problem-solving and investigative study are central to our curriculum delivery. Our approach to assessment and marking provides regular opportunities for self-reflection and a deeper understanding of each pupil’s learning journey.

At Barrow Hills, our creative programme is central to our success and offers every child the opportunity to explore and express themselves. All pupils have the chance to exhibit work in our annual Art Exhibition, building confidence and celebrating creativity. Regular trips to galleries and cultural events further inspire pupils to broaden their artistic horizons and engage with the wider art world.

We use our remarkable environment to deepen learning, and our library is a good example of this. A vibrant hub for learning and imagination – our pupils, and staff, simply love to read. Guided by a dedicated librarian, children benefit from initiatives that link closely to the curriculum, including themed days, Book Week and visits from authors. The library provides opportunities for reading for pleasure, research and creative projects, bringing learning to life and inspiring a lifelong love of books and knowledge. All children enjoy guided library sessions on a weekly basis as well as taking books home to enjoy. We have a beautifully appointed and resourced library, and this, alongside our English and Drama curriculum, drives our English attainment to exceed national standards at 11+ and at 13+ deliver an average A* to B grade in exams.

Barrow Hills School feels like a family: one with a great big garden, space to run and play, and a lot of love.

It’s lovely to see the children getting lost in their own imaginations, being creative, constructive and self-motivated, and progressing to their senior schools having taken advantage of the natural environment we offer.”

We like to think of Barrow Hill’s children as being ‘free-range kids’ who just get out there. For as we say at Barrow Hills, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices.

Join us at an Open Morning

The best way to experience what life is like at Barrow Hills is to join us at an Open Morning. You will have the chance to talk to children and teachers about what makes our school such a magical place, and to ask any questions you have about life here.

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How do we achieve this?

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