Barnard Castle School
A top-of-the-class rebrand and new website for a prestigious school
- Brand
- Marketing
- Website
Barnard Castle School – more affectionately known as ‘Barney’ – is an illustrious independent school in County Durham with a rich history and an impressive reputation. But while the school itself was flourishing, its digital presence wasn’t quite singing from the same hymn sheet.
The challenge: Barney’s a bit of a dinosaur
The Barney website had become bloated over the years – an overflowing archive of duplicate pages, hundreds of blog posts, and a sitemap that was less ‘helpful guide’ and more ‘choose your own adventure’. Prospective parents were overwhelmed, current parents couldn’t always find what they needed, and the site was far from the marketing powerhouse the school deserved.
The brand, too, needed to be considered. While steeped in that all-important heritage, the school’s visual identity risked looking dated in an increasingly digital-first world. For a school with both deep traditions and big ambitions (including attracting international students), it was time to strike the right balance between history and modernity.
In short: Barney needed a rebrand and a website that was fit for purpose, beautifully user-friendly, and optimised as a true sales and marketing tool.
So, what exactly did we do?
We collectively cracked our knuckles, assembled the full might of the TVG team, and got to work. Together, we set out to deliver a full rebrand to sharpen the school’s identity, a complete redesign and rebuild of the website from the ground up, and the creation of a flexible, scalable platform that can evolve with Barney for years to come.
It has been a great start to term, and the launch of the new website has been right at the heart of that momentum! I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your hard work, expertise, and coordination in bringing it to life. It looks fantastic, and it already feels like such a step forward in how we present ourselves.
David Cresswell
Headmaster, Barnard Castle School
Brand: historic heritage in the digital age
Rebranding an institution with more heritage than Hogwarts isn’t something you do lightly. The trick was to modernise without losing the character and traditions that make Barnard Castle School special.
So, we evolved the logo into a modern, flexible system. At its core, the new twin shield motif reflects the school’s heritage in a simplified, distinctive form that works across everything from website headers to social media icons. Alongside it, a clean, confident wordmark provides legibility at all sizes.
Top marks for detail
Supporting marks – including a refined seal and badge – give the brand flexibility across touchpoints like alumni materials, certificates, and merchandise. And thanks to carefully designed lockups, every logo variant now works seamlessly, whether for Prep School, Senior School, or Sixth Form.
The colour palette centres on Barney Blue – deep, rich, and instantly recognisable – paired with Barney Neutral for balance and Barney Gold for heritage accents. Typography was also modernised to create approachable, readable copy.
The result? A brand that feels timeless yet unmistakably modern – fit for digital platforms while retaining the gravitas of the school’s history.
Web: digital open day, every day
If the old website was ‘information overload’, the new one is clarity itself. We tore the sitemap apart and rebuilt it from scratch, prioritising the journeys of prospective parents while still making sure that current parents could quickly find the resources they needed.
Key to this was the introduction of a bespoke Wayfinder module, giving users a straightforward navigation system that can grow alongside the school’s content. No more labyrinthine menus or duplicate pages – just clean, clear, intuitive journeys.
Design-wise, we took full advantage of the school’s impressive bank of high-quality photography. Stock images were never going to cut it here – showcasing real students brings the school’s vibrancy and community spirit to life in a way nothing else could.
Teamwork makes the grade
On the development side, we had multiple teams working in sync – designers, content creators, and developers collaborating to deliver a site that’s as snappy as it is slick.
Accessibility and optimisation were a top priority from day one, as you’d expect for an educational institution. Add in standardised calls-to-action and simplified forms, and it’s never been easier for parents to get in touch with the school.
This monumental team effort paid equally huge dividends with a site that’s sleek, user-friendly, and future-proof – a genuine sales and marketing asset.
Marketing: what’s next for Barney & Friends?
A shiny new brand and website are just the beginning. With sturdy foundations in place, TVG will continue to support Barnard Castle School through ongoing marketing – including content creation and SEO optimisation.
The goal? To make sure the new website isn’t just a digital shop window, but the heart of a joined-up marketing strategy that connects with parents, prospective families, and the wider community.
And with the website able to accommodate the school’s growing needs as and when they arise, the best is very much yet to come.
It has been a real pleasure working with TVG on this project, and I’m very grateful for the time, care, and energy they’ve given to get us here. We’re looking forward to the next phase with real excitement, and I know the school will benefit hugely from the strong platform TVG has helped create.
David Cresswell
Headmaster, Barnard Castle School