A TECH-SAVVY school has been shortlisted for a national award for its innovative use of technology.
Barnard Castle School has been named a finalist for Best Use of Education Technology in the Independent School of the Year Awards, recognising the impact of its bespoke platform Apollo.
Created by Barnard Castle School, in partnership with Involve Education, Apollo is designed around the simple idea of ‘seeing the whole child’.
From Prep School to Sixth Form, students use Apollo to set goals, reflect, celebrate achievements and capture the experiences that shape them. These include a host of activities, from CCF and community service to performances, sporting challenges, leadership and RAF flying days.
It’s a technology with a distinctly human purpose bringing together school values of community, character and ambition into everyday school life, giving students greater ownership of their development and helping tutors have richer, more meaningful conversations with them.
Headmaster David Cresswell said: “We wanted to create something that reflects what makes a Barney education special, not just what our students achieve, but who they are becoming. Apollo has transformed the way we mentor, reflect and celebrate progress, while giving our students real ownership of their journey. We’re incredibly proud to see this work recognised at a national level.”
And, according to pupils, it is making a difference. “If I set a goal on Apollo, I try harder to complete it than if the goal was just in my head,” said Elodie, Year 8.
For Old Barnardian Lucia, Apollo helped turn experiences into evidence that could be used for further education applications. “It helped me provide evidence of what I’d actually done,” she said.
And for Josaia, a Year 13 boarder, it’s about something deeper. “The reflections make me more self-aware of strengths and areas for improvement and overall help me to learn from my past experiences,” he said.
Mr Cresswell added: “That’s the point of Apollo. Not more technology for technology’s sake, but technology that helps young people know themselves, own their journey and shape what comes next. The Age of Apollo has begun.”
Prospective students and their parents can find out more about Barnard Castle School and the Apollo platform at the next open morning on Saturday, October 3.