Public Schools
Contributed by the Ministry of Education & Development
Bermuda’s 18 primary schools, five middle schools and two senior schools cater to just under 6,000 students. The nine private schools have just over 3,000 pupils.
The education system is split into three levels for children of compulsory school age–a primary level consisting of six years, a middle level consisting of three years and a senior level consisting of four years. This is generally based on the location of the family residence. The senior schools have general admission.
School is compulsory for all persons from the age of five years and ends when they reach their sixteenth birthday. The public education system provides free preschool for young persons four years of age.
Preparing the island’s young people to make the best use of their talents, skills and abilities is one of the chief objectives of the public system of Education in Bermuda. This objective is embedded within the Education Ministry’s mission which states “The Mission of the Bermuda Public School System is to be the first choice in education by providing rigorous and stimulating learning experiences in safe, responsive environments from which our students emerge confident and prepared to contribute locally and globally.”
There are two major initiatives in the public school system at present involving literacy and technology. The goal of the technology initiative is to ensure that all students and staff have ready access to information technology. The literacy initiative is designed to refocus instructional practices to ensure that all students attain a high level of literacy as they progress throughout the education system.
Mathematical literacy is a cornerstone of the process and the vision is for students to have the confidence and competence to apply their mathematical understanding through reasoning, and problem solving. As students attain mastery of the various levels, their awareness of the importance of mathematics in their everyday lives will increase.
Throughout the public system students are challenged through a wide range of programmes that enhance and facilitate the development of critical skills and learning experiences. Public Education is structured to address the needs of its high achievers by stimulating their giftedness through flexible and student-centred approaches. Through a constant process of evaluation and a commitment to diversity, all students are able to find a path that suits their needs.
While the student is central to the education process, teachers have an exceedingly important part to play. As a consequence, there is a comprehensive staff development programme that is constantly being upgraded to ensure that it is operating optimally.
Among its many facets, staff development for teachers is based around raising expectations and enhancing the instructional and leadership skills of all those who enter the classroom.
Private Schools
Contributed by Roy Napier, Head of School, Bermuda High School for Girls
Private schools in Bermuda are long established and are held in high regard by Bermudians and by the ex-patriate community. Several of the schools are over a hundred years old and Warwick Academy is one of the oldest schools in the Western World.
Over the years the schools have changed substantially. Some have gone from private status to public and then to private status. Each has its own character and the wise parent will seek out the school that best meets the needs of the child or student in question. This is but a brief outline sketch of the major schools.
The Bermuda High School for Girls (BHS) retains its single sex character and has a strong record of success. The recent addition of the International Baccalaureate Diploma program (IB) brings the highly regarded IB program to Bermuda.
Warwick Academy, a fully integrated, co-educational school offers a combination of GCSE examinations and A and A/S level based on the U.K. National curriculum and they will soon offer the IB Diploma.
Saltus Grammar School, the largest of the schools, now co-educational, offers a well established lap-top program in the Secondary Department. The Saltus Graduate Year (SGY) offers a post GCSE program leading to university entrance. The Advanced Placement program is offered at Saltus.
Mount St. Agnes, the co-educational Roman Catholic school offering an American based curriculum from which graduates proceed to further education in the U.S.A. or elsewhere, is a well established school.
The Bermuda Institute, the Seventh Day Adventist School is co-educational and has its own character and curriculum based on the ethics and values of the church program.
Somersfield Academy, a relatively new co-educational school, located on a recently developed campus offers a Montessori program in the earlier years, followed by the IB Middle Years program.
The private schools receive no government funding and are sustained by fees paid and by donations. The schools cherish their independence and are able to choose curricula to suit the needs of the children. BHS, Saltus and Warwick tend to favour a U.K. based curriculum, but are influenced by international trends in education, as are the others to a certain degree.
All these schools enjoy a strong reputation of academic excellence and offer broadly based programs. With almost 40% of the school aged population attending private schools there are certain admission pressures, particularly for boys, that are inevitable. Parents are advised to apply early for admission, not quite at conception...but the earlier the better.
A recent trend is the development of home schools – a misnomer, to a degree. These small schools are often started by individual teachers to meet the specific learning needs of individual children. Some enrol a few students and others a greater number, but this is now controlled, to a degree, by recent legislation. Private pre-schools abound and, again, are much sought after by parents.
Many of the schools expect, and indeed require, a strong commitment from parents as volunteers and there is often a close relationship between the school and the home. Children are often kept busy with music lessons, sports, dance and a host of activities. Many parents drive children to and from school, sometimes in sync with a work schedule, or in car pools.
Children who attend private schools do well and are well prepared for university abroad. Some parents seek boarding opportunities in the U.S.A., Canada or the U.K. and children exit the private schools at various grade levels.
A parent’s choice of private or public education will be based on many criteria. Although many of the schools offer scholarships or financial aid, the cost of tuition is a barrier to parents. All in all, however, many parents, regardless of income level, aspire to providing a private school education for their children.
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