Children in Bermuda are required to attend school until their 16th birthday, thus primary, middle and typically two years of secondary school are considered the components of compulsory education.
The majority of Bermuda’s school children attend established Government and private schools. Most schools are co-educational with Bermuda High School For Girls (BHS) the only remaining single-sex school. Bermuda Institute (BI) also has a middle school programme where girls and boys attend single-sex classes.
Government schools offer free education to all students who register through the Ministry of Education. There are ten government pre-schools, eighteen primary schools, five middle schools and two senior schools. While approximately 59% of Bermuda’s school children attend the public school system, an increasing number of Bermudians and Bermuda residents are opting to send their children to private schools despite hefty tuition fees. According to the Bermuda Department of Statistics, in 1994, of the 10,499 children attending school in Bermuda, 7,487 students attended public school while 2,519 attended private school. By 2004, there were 10,851 students attending school with 6,370 students in the public school system and 3,512 in the private school system.
Though they may assign them different names, most Bermuda schools (both public and private) work within a primary to middle to senior school structure. It’s what takes place within that basic framework that is dramatically different.
Public Schools: The Education System
Contributed by the Ministry of Education and Development
Bermuda’s eighteen public primary schools, five middle schools and two senior schools cater to over 6,000 students.
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. Acceptance in primary and middle school is based on the location of the family residence. The senior schools have general admission.
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.”
Bermuda’s public schools follow the Bermuda Curriculum from Preschool through the final year of senior school. Under the Bermuda Curriculum system, the schools are required to teach specific course work for each year. This includes the Bermuda School Certificate Programme which all public school students undertake in senior school. Graduation from public senior schools means that a student has attained the Bermuda School Certificate. In addition, both Berkley and Cedarbridge Academy students have the option of sitting GCSE’s and are encouraged to sit the SAT’s if they are planning on attending college or university in the United States, which many do. The counselling department at Cedarbridge noted that historically their graduates attend North American schools. Canadian institutions are popular as they are less expensive than many U.S. schools and offer more scholarship opportunities to Bermudian students. Historically black American universities are also popular. These include Howard, Hampton and Morehouse. St. Johns’ University in N.Y.C., which now offers a College of Insurance, is also a popular choice of Bermuda students.
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 through the current development of a programme to address giftedness, through increased emphasis on the arts and development of skills in craft areas and through enabling students to attend after-school classes in a gifted programme organized by an external agency. Through a constant process of evaluation and 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 important part to play. As a consequence, there is a comprehensive staff development programme that is constantly being upgraded to ensure that it is satisfying the needs of the system
Private School
Contributed by Roy Napier, Former Head of School Bermuda high school for girls
Private schools in Bermuda are long established. Several are over a hundred years old, infact, 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 back 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.
The private schools receive no government funding and are sustained by student fees and by donations. Consequently the schools are able to choose curricula to suit the needs of the children. Bermuda High School for Girls, 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.
These schools all enjoy a strong reputation of academic excellence and offer broadly based programmes. 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 enroll 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 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 can be a barrier to parents (in 2007/2008 the cost of private school tuition in Bermuda is estimated to be $7,000-$15,000 per student depending on which school they attend). All in all, however, many parents in Bermuda, regardless of income level, aspire to providing a private school education for their children.
Within the private schools, some closely follow the U.K. education model right through to university entrance exams. Others take a North American approach. There are also hybrids of the two systems and stand-alones such as the Montessori system that is taught at primary level at Somersfield Academy. The following information provides an overview of each of Bermuda’s established private schools.
Bermuda High School For Girls
The stated aim of Bermuda High School For Girls (BHS) is to provide an educational programme of quality and flexibility thus ensuring that students are properly prepared to meet the foundation requirements of suitable colleges and universities whether they be in Bermuda, the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. The educational system at BHS is based on the U.K. model and includes: primary school, years 1-6; middle school, years 7,8 and 9; IGCSE/GCSE years 10 and 11; and International Baccalaureate, years IB1 and IB2. Graduation from BHS is dependent upon receiving a passing average on the IGCSE/GCSE’s. Both BHS and non-BHS students (girls & boys) may apply for the International Baccalaureate programme at BHS.
Bermuda Institute
The Bermuda Institute is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its history dates back to 1943 when 17 pupils occupied one classroom in the basement of the building then known as Bay View Apartments. The school offers a North American-based education system including elementary school, kindergarten - grade 6; middle school, grades 7 and 8 and high school, grades 9 - 12. Throughout their 12 years of schooling, children are required to sit the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. In their 11 and 12th years they may sit the ACT, SAT and PSAT exams.
Mount Saint Agnes Academy
Mount Saint Agnes Academy (MSA) is an independent Catholic co-educational school. The school was founded in 1890 by the Sisters of Charity of Halifax, but it is now owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Church in Bermuda. The education programme at MSA is based on the North American system and includes Elementary School (Kindergarten – Grade 5), Middle School (Grade 6 – Grade 8) and High School (Grade 9 – Grade 12). MSA is a student-centered school that stresses excellence in an environment of high expectations and high support. Its size is ideal with fewer than 500 students allowing individuals to be well known and appropriately recognized for their unique and special talents. Above all, Mount Saint Agnes Academy is an academic institution that challenges students to reach their highest potential.
Saltus Grammar School
Saltus Grammar School (Saltus) is the largest private school in Bermuda and is co-educational. Founded in 1888 as a boys' grammar school, it became fully co-educational in 1991, a change matched by extensive building renovation. Nearly 1,000 students are educated in two constituent schools: Saltus Primary Department with Lower Primary (Foundation Year and Saltus 1 & 2) in Devonshire, while Upper Primary (Saltus 3 to 6), Saltus Secondary (Saltus 7 to 11) and Saltus Graduate Years (Saltus 12 & 13) share the St. John’s road campus. IGCSE and GCSE exams are taken in S10 and S11 and the college preparatory Advanced Placement Program® exams and SAT’s, Levels I and II, are taken in Saltus Graduate Years.
Somersfield Academy
One of Bermuda’s newest private schools, Somersfield Academy opened its doors to 72 children in 1991. After quickly outgrowing their original facility, a new school was built and a Middle Years Programme was introduced. Somersfield is co-educational. Students of Somersfield Academy reap the benefits of learning under two internationally recognized programmes, the Montessori Programme (preschool-P1, ages 3-6; P2-P4, ages 6-9; P5-P6, ages 9-11) and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, ages 11-16. The MYP offers students rigorous, comprehensive and well-rounded academic preparation for moving on to the final two years of academic high school.
Warwick Academy
Founded in the 1600’s, Warwick Academy has experienced centuries of change and evolution. Today the stated objectives of the co-educational facility are to provide an educational experience as good as any that could be obtained in any other place in the world with respect to academic development and achievement, social growth and orientation, and the development of international perspective. The school programme is broken down into primary school, P1 to P6; middle school, year 7 to year 9; IGCSE/GCSE years, year 10 and year 11; and International Baccalaureate years, year 12 and year 13.
Know The Lingo
If talk of GCSE’s, IGCSE’s, Advanced Placement Programs and IB programmes, leaves you a bit befuddled, the following glossary should help.
GCSE: The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is a British qualification designed as a two-year course of study for pupils typically 14-16 years of age. The GCSE’s are one of the main means of assessing attainment and most students take GCSE’s in Math, English and Science. Schools may also require that students take at least one Modern Foreigh Language. Pass grades are awarded on an A-star to G scale and an unclassified category (U) which is fail. In most subjects the final grade is arrived at by a combination of assessing coursework and by terminal examination. Coursework can contribute 20-60% of a student’s final grade. Passing a good selection of GCSE’s is considered proof of a good general education and good preparation for the International Baccalaureate programme (see below).
GCSE’s are offered at: Bermuda High School for Girls, Saltus Grammar School and Warwick Academy. Public school students may also opt to sit these exams.
IGCSE: The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an international qualification designed as a two-year course of study for pupils ages 14 - 16. It prepares students for further academic work, including progression to the IB Diploma Programme. The IGCSE provides a broad study programme by drawing subjects from five areas: Languages, Humanities, Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Creative, Technical and Vocational. Some may consider the IGCSE a bit more difficult than the GCSE but this varies from subject to subject.
BHS, Saltus and Warwick Academy offer the IGCSE.
Note: A-levels and O-levels are no longer offered in Bermuda schools.
International Baccalaureate (IB): The International Baccalaureate is a two-year diploma programme designed for highly motivated students. The diploma provides an ideal pre-university course and is recognized by universities around the world.
The qualification has earned a reputation for rigorous assessment and is highly regarded by the world’s leading universities. The two-year course combines six subject groups with three additional features: theory of knowledge; creativity, action and service; and an extended essay. The six subject groups cover: English; French, Spanish or Latin; History, Geography, Business & Management or ITGS; Chemistry, Bilogy or Physics; Mathematics; and Arts and Electives. Students may select one subject from each group, three of which will be studied at the higher level and three at the standard level. All subjects carry coursework requirements however the majority of the course is assessed via examination at the end of the IB 2 year.
The IB programme is offered at: Bermuda High School for Girls and Warwick Academy and is open to students from other schools.
Advanced Placement Program®: The Advanced Placement Program is a cooperative educational endeavour between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the Program has provided motivated high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school setting. Students who participate in the Program not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases they also earn college credit while they are still in high school.
The Advanced Placement Program is offered at: Saltus Grammar School.
SAT Reasoning Test: The SAT Reasoning Test (SAT) is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. It is developed, published and scored by the College Board (www.collegeboard .com). The SAT consists of three major sections: Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing. Each section is scored on a scale of 200 – 800. Total scores are calculated by adding the scores of the three sections. Sample questions and tons of other hellpful information can be found on the College Board site.
The SAT is administered seven times a year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a year overseas. Students are allowed to sit the SAT exam numerous times if they choose.
The SAT test is taken by students at: Saltus Grammar School, Mount Saint Agnes Academy and Bermuda Institute. Students of other private schools and the public school system have the option of taking the exam.
School Programmes At A Glance
