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By Keith Archibald Forbes (see About Us) exclusively for Bermuda Online
To refer to this webfile, please use "bermuda-online.org/educate.htm" as your Subject
There are schools in every one of the nine Bermuda Parishes.
Introduction
In recent months, Dutch and German business newcomers assigned to Bermuda-based offices of their international businesses have asked about what facilities exist in Bermuda for their children to be taught in their own language in Bermuda's public and private schools. Newcomers working in Bermuda or the spouse of a newcomer with a young child or children should note that all schools in Bermuda are taught in English only. None are bilingual. Bermuda is a tiny island of only 21 square miles or 56 kilometers in total land area. The educational system here is completely independent of the systems of any foreign country such as the United Kingdom, USA or Canada or beyond. Unlike in far larger countries with significant multi-cultural populations and cultural and educational facilities and laws and faculties to match, no laws or facilities of any kind exist (because there is no or insufficient demand for them) in Bermuda for non-English-speaking children to be taught while at school in any language other than English. It is perhaps for this reason that most non-Bermudian newcomers tend to be either childless or with grown-up children or have teenage children studying abroad, in their own countries or elsewhere outside of Bermuda - such as in USA or Canada or Europe or United Kingdom.
All education, whether at a Bermuda Government funded or maintained and taxpayer-supported school (a public school) or private school (not taxpayer-supported but with fees paid by parents) is administered and controlled by the Bermuda Government's Ministry of Education and Development, 7 Point Finger Road, Paget DV 04, P. O. Box HM 1185, Hamilton HM EX phone (441) 236-6904. Fax 236-4006, Bermuda. All enquiries about education in Bermuda not shown in this file should be directed to the latter, not to this author.
In the past 15 years there have been ten Ministers of Education. They are
Public education in Bermuda at Bermuda Government owned or maintained schools is conducted by accredited and qualified teachers who must be certified by the Bermuda Government and are members of the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT), at Seventy Two Teachers' Place, 72 Church Street, Hamilton HM 12. P. O. Box HM 726, Hamilton HM CX. Phone (441) 292 6515. Fax (441) 292 0697. Founded February 1, 1919. In 1964, it combined with the Teachers Association of Bermuda (see book The Teachers Association of Bermuda (1949 to 1964).The result was the Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers. Any accredited and qualified teacher at any private school in Bermuda can also become a member of BUT if they wish. It has a representative on the Labor Advisory Council and Public Service Superannuation Board, both Bermuda Government Boards.
Non-nationals accepting teaching posts in Bermuda from the United Kingdom should note that unlike in the UK there are
The Bermuda Educators Council Act came into effect in July 2002. It improves standards in the profession and increases the esteem in which teachers are held. It sets the framework for registration, not for licensing, but as a result all Bermudian and imported teachers - not those in an administrative role - will now have to be licensed.
The Education Amendment Act 2003, among other things, sets the stage for the regulation of home schools.
Education in Bermuda is compulsory for all children from 5 to 16. It is free for parents of students at Government schools, namely primary schools, middle schools, senior schools and special schools - all day schools - comprising preschools, junior, special and secondary schools - administered by Bermuda's Ministry of Education. It is NOT free for parents of students at local private day schools (there are no local boarding schools in Bermuda).
Newcomers with children of school age can choose whether to enroll them in a Government or private school, in Bermuda or overseas.
This webfile shows, separately, both the Government schools and the Private schools.
Taxpayer-funded, unlike private schools which are not. The mission of Government-owned or maintained schools, also known in Bermuda as public schools, is the provision of an environment in which each student may develop academic, practical and physical skills; practice critical and creative thinking; exemplify aesthetic, social, moral and spiritual values which characterize a secure, self-confident individual who is capable of constructive participation in the community and effective functioning in an age of change, with life-long, self-directed learning.
Government grants for primary education began in 1816. The government educational system of today derives, however, from the Schools Act 1879 and is based on the traditional British pattern. The Education Act 1949 established the right of all children within what was then the compulsory school age (7 to 13) to receive free primary education. By 1969, the compulsory school age had been expanded to 5 to 16 and all children within that age are entitled to free primary and secondary education. In 1985 the Education Act was amended to entitle children to remain in secondary school up to the age of 19 years in order to complete the secondary programme.
The government system comprises a number of primary schools, access to which is determined mainly on the basis of proximity of residence to a school. The system at secondary level consists of a fewer number of schools, is selective and is divided between academic and general schools. Principals of the secondary schools select pupils on the basis of performance in an examination taken at the end of the primary school stage and of parental preference. Technical and prevocational education is provided in the general secondary schools. Provision is also made for the education of children with special needs in six special schools, which have been in operation for more than 20 years, and in special programme classes, which have operated for more than 10 years, in regular primary and secondary schools. Special education provides a continuum of services appropriate to the range of special needs of the students concerned. Free education is provided in a number of pre-schools for four-year-old children. Curriculum guides at all levels have been in place for several years. At the pre-schools, the curriculum objectives are related to social, cognitive and motor development, as well as to language, mathematics, social studies and science. The Government has restructured the educational system in order to remove selectivity from the secondary level and to provide equal access to the curriculum for all students. The system has three levels -primary, middle and senior secondary. The Bermuda College, which was incorporated by the Bermuda College Act 1974, offers opportunities for higher education in liberal arts, business studies, hotel administration and technology. The College, a publicly funded institution, provides a two-year university transfer programme which enables qualified students to enter the third year of a four-year institution in North America. The two-year diploma has been accepted as the equivalent of "A" levels in the United Kingdom and enables students to enter the first year of selected universities there. The College operates a Faculty of Adult and Continuing Education which enables persons already in the workforce to upgrade their skills. The Adult Education School, a private institution which receives a government grant through the Bermuda College, provides a means by which those who have not gained secondary school certification may do so through the General Education Development (GED) programme developed in the United States. The Government operates an extensive financial aid scheme to assist students seeking higher education in institutions outside Bermuda. A satisfactory academic performance and demonstration of financial need are two of the principal criteria for the receipt of such aid. In addition, there are Bermuda Government Scholarships based on academic merit and commitment to the teaching profession.
All teachers in the government schools are eligible for membership in the Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers, which negotiates salaries and conditions of service. All principals in government schools are eligible for membership in the Association of School Principals, which similarly represents their interests. Programmes of professional development, salaries and conditions of service for teachers and principals have been continually improved. Negotiations on these terms of employment take place every two years and their outcome is confirmed in published agreements with the Government.
The Attorney General told a meeting in late March 2007 that Bermuda’s public education system needed dramatically restructuring from pre-school to the senior level. Local educators claim Bermuda's public, or government, school students lag two years behind public school students of the USA in English and Mathematics. Senator Philip Perinchief, a former teacher, said at least three public high schools were needed on the Island in the east, west and central parishes, as opposed to the two central senior schools Bermuda has now.
He also called for an institution offering vocational education to replace the long-closed Technical Institute and a community college awarding four-year degrees. “Too long in my experience we continue to be satisfied with mediocrity,” he said. The Minister was speaking at Cathedral Hall in Hamilton where a team of education experts from the UK who were carrying out a review of Bermuda’s public schools invited comments from the public. Premier Ewart Brown and Education Minister Randy Horton also attended but did not speak. Two simultaneous meetings were held in St. George’s and Sandys as part of the wide-reaching inquiry, which is aimed, in part, at pinpointing why less than half of the Island’s public senior school students are graduating with a Bermuda School Certificate. Professor David Hopkins, from the Institute of Education at the University of London, led the review. He told the Hamilton meeting: “The purpose of these meetings is to give you an opportunity to talk directly to myself and my colleagues so that we can be certain we are feeding authentic views into our report.” His team is visited every one of the Island’s public schools and will present a report to Mr. Horton by April 30, 2007. The recommendations for change will take effect from September 2007. Professor Hopkins said he wanted the contents of the report to be “as public as possible”. “One of the recommendations is that the implementation is monitored,” he said. “I have a feeling from the Minister that he feels likewise.” Scores of people attended the Hamilton meeting and gave their views on why the public education system is failing. One female teacher questioned whether public schools should be abolished altogether. Suggestions made by members of the public included that retired teachers be used as mentors in the classroom, that Afro-centric learning be introduced and that the curriculum be made more flexible to meet different children’s needs.On May 4, 2007, The Education Review team made ten published recommendations to fix the public school system, with the first six of them needing to be implemented as soon as possible in order to improve the current system. They are:
Children must be 4 years old between January 1 and December 31. They must be resident in the same zone as the preschool to which application is made. Prospect Pre-School will accept applications from persons living in either Devonshire Parish or Pembroke Parish. Southampton Preschool will accept applications from persons living in Sandys Parish providing the home address falls within the MA 06 postal zone. These are the only Sandys residents who will be considered at Southampton Preschool.
Priority in enrolment is given to younger four year olds, namely, those children born on the latter part of the year. Parents of children not initially accepted should contact the teacher-in-charge of the preschool and request that their child's name be placed on the waiting list. As vacancies occur, teachers-in-charge will admit pupils according to the criteria cited above.
Children must be 5 years old between January 1 and December 31. They must be resident in the same zone as the primary school to which application is made. Priority in enrolment is given to in-zone siblings of pupils in Primary 1 to 5 already attending the school to which application is made. If the school is over-subscribed, priority in admissions is given to in-zone residents who reside nearest that school. Parents of children not initially accepted should contact the principal of the preferred school and request that their child's name be placed on the waiting list. As vacancies become available, principals will admit pupils according to the criteria cited above.
Middle schools normally accept only those students who attend their feeder schools shown:
All students eligible for enrolment in a senior school should apply to either of the following. If either is over-subscribed, random selection will take place.
Questions about any of the above should be directed to the Ministry of Education at telephone (441) 236-6904 extension 3659 or 3660.
See Bermuda Government Boards.
Usually announced in the Official Gazette.
There are a number of private schools - not state or government - for children of all ages and two private schools which offer early primary education. These institutions receive no government funding. The Government has the authority to determine the examinations to be taken in such schools, as a means of ensuring appropriate academic standards there. For updates to the information below, schools should contact the author, Keith A. Forbes, directly at email kaforbes@ibl.bm. Schools will have their websites and email addresses shown below gladly at no cost to them once they act in accordance with our Reciprocal Links policy.
Some are both preparatory (primary) and secondary. Business newcomers being located to Bermuda on work permits from the UK or Europe, or the USA and Canada, and who bring a child or children with them, should note that Bermuda is not an European Union country and does not follow any of the EU's laws or requirements, or those from the United Kingdom or USA or Canada. For example, there are no Dutch or French or English or American or Canadian schools. Local private or independent schools have a fundamentally different educational philosophy and a much higher standard overall than local public schools. They train their students to sit for and pass American, British, Canadian and European university qualifying programs which are internationally recognized. Several also offer an additional year, a Grade 13 equivalent, for academically gifted students to enter university with the equivalent of a sophomore year achieved. These schools charge tuition costing thousands of dollars a year per student. Nevertheless, all are running at full capacity and several have substantial waiting lists. Some may be Member Schools of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools, or the Independent Schools Information Service, or Independent Schools Council, all in the United Kingdom.
Applications for teaching positions in Bermuda Private Schools should be directed by airmail solely to the specific school concerned in Bermuda.
Primary, since 1990, ages 5-12. Phone (441) 292-8326 or fax 296-1522.
Linda Parker, only the fifth Bermudian Head in the school’s history, a BHS graduate. She took over from Canadian Roy Napier. One of the best schools in Bermuda. It educates girls to high international standards and prepare them for productive and fulfilling lives. Modeled on the United Kingdom's Cheltenham Ladies College. Included in its syllabus is the International Baccalaureate (IB) as preparation for university. It is the IB Centre for Bermuda. Also, it is British oriented in curriculum and examinations taken by graduates, but with flexibility added to ensure their smooth transition to North American universities.
Note the
St. John's Road, Pembroke Parish. Telephone: (441) 292-6177. Fax: (441) 295-4977. P. O. Box HM 2224, Hamilton HM JX. A Private School. Principal is Nigel J. G. Kermode. The most expensive private school in Bermuda, it is secular and co-educational, both British and North American oriented in curriculum and examinations taken by graduates. Its admissions policy is to provide access by children irrespective of background.
It has a Toshiba and Microsoft 'Learning Though Laptops' program whereby nearly 600 laptops are in daily use by students age 11 and up. Its SchoolNet is a teaching center linked by fiber optic cable to the new library, research center, class, staff and administration rooms.
Annual fees - on application.
Formerly Montessori International Academy. 107 Middle Road, Devonshire DV 06. Telephone: (441) 236-9797 or 236-9789. Fax: (441) 236-9789. A private school, founded 1991, by the Montessori Education Trust. Currently with more than 330 students from 3 years old. Early childhood; lower elementary; upper elementary; middle school (the International Baccalaureate Organization). Secular. The Head of the School is Mrs. Margaret Hallet The philosophy is based on the teaching methods of Dr. Maria Montessori. With a 5-year Middle School Program, based on the International Baccalaureate Organization Middle Years Program. In June 2006 it become the first outside Canada to receive official accreditation by the Canadian Educational Standards Institute (CESI). Ten assessors from the institute visited Somersfield Academy in Devonshire in April and decided that the school ranked on a par with the best Canadian schools. Dr. James R. Christopher, CESI’s executive director, said yesterday: “The Board of Directors of CESI has unanimously voted to award full accreditation to Somersfield Academy." The accreditation is the result of a three-year evaluation process that involved extensive site visits and assessments by CESI council members. The waiting list is strong.
Montessori Preparatory School:
38 Lightbourne Lane, Smith's Parish, FL 02. (441) 236-9797 or 236-0332. Fax: (441) 232-3119.
A Private School. 117 Middle Road, Warwick Parish, PG 01. Telephone: (441) 236-1251 or 236-1251 or 239-1917 (Office). Fax (441) 236-9995. Annual fees on application. There is a large waiting list at every level. It is a secular and co-educational day school. It was the first offshore school in the British Commonwealth, established in 1662 and operated continuously ever since. It was a private primary and secondary school until 1960 when it became a Bermuda Government aided secondary school. It reverted to private school status in 1990. Present head teacher is Maggie McCorkell who assumed the post in August 2008. Prior to that, since 1997, Mr. Bob Lennox, from Derby, England, was head teacher. He left to take up a new post as principal of a Muslim school in Istanbul, Turkey. The school began commissioning artists to paint portraits of head teachers in the 1950s. All of the paintings, including a large portrait of long-serving head teacher Geoffrey Lamacraft and Mr. Lennox (see below), are hung on a wall in the hall.
Royal Gazette August 2008 photo by Glenn Tucker
| Warwick Academy Association | registered charity 157 |
Adult Education School. Telephone 292-5809. Registered charity 229, telephone 292-5809 or e-mail aes@northrock.bm Marked its 50th anniversary in 2008 with its Foundational Literacy Programme to support learners with poor reading skills. Funded by Bank of Bermuda and Montpelier Reinsurance, the scheme provides direct instruction in reading, writing and spelling. The Dundonald Street school serves between 150 and 200 adult learners per year, ranging from 16 years old to older than 40. Many are teenagers who have dropped out of their former secondary schools.
Bermuda College. A non-residential junior college by USA standards. It has applied to become accredited A US organisation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), which has a strict set of criteria for higher education institutions seeking accreditation, including rules on financial management. Its Center for Adult and Continuing Education facility offers many courses for adult students, Bermudians and non Bermudians. They include Professional; Hospitality; Computer related, for Macintosh and PC users; Technology; Personal Development; Do It Yourself; Cooking; Recreational Art; and Horticulture. facility offers many courses for adult students, Bermudians and non Bermudians. They include Professional; Hospitality; Computer related, for Macintosh and PC users; Technology; Personal Development; Do It Yourself; Cooking; Recreational Art; and Horticulture.A Community Education and Development Program, with three terms a year, is sponsored by the Bermuda Government's Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Education. The sites are the Government run Computer Center, Northlands School, Warwick Secondary School, Sandys Secondary School and St. George's Secondary School. Classes meet for two hours and run for 10 weeks. Courses are grouped under the following main headings: Academic Support; Arts and Crafts; Basic Education; Boating; Certificate Courses; Commercial Courses; Computer Education; Consumer Education; Do It Yourself; Family and Personal Development; Food and Home; Health and Beauty; Languages; Music, Dance and Theater; Recreation and Fitness; and Technical Trades.
Bermuda has NO universities. A significant number of local preparatory (primary) pupils, or graduates of secondary, high and private schools, and non Bermudian dependents of Bermuda based international industry personnel, attend schools or universities abroad. Most go to the USA and Canada. American universities require Bermudians to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Those who go to the United Kingdom do so primarily - but not exclusively - for law studies.
Under the Bermuda Government's National Education Guarantee Scheme, since 1994, no Bermudian student with university potential is denied the opportunity for further education due to lack of funds. It doesn't offer scholarships but education loans for university attendance with a generous pay back period. Only students who are Bermudian by birth (namely, born in Bermuda with at least one parent being Bermudian, or born overseas with at least one parent Bermudian at the time) or by grant of Bermuda Status can apply for funding under this scheme.
In November 2006, tuition fees were drastically cut for Bermudians studying at colleges and universities in England. Annual fees – then nearly $19,000 – were reduced to about $5,700 from the next academic year. Bill Rammell, the UK Minister for Higher Education, announced the move as part of a drive to encourage people from British Overseas Territories to study in England. Mr. Rammell said students from all such territories, including Bermuda, would be charged home rate fees for further education and undergraduate degree courses in England from September 2007. Teachers in Bermuda welcomed the move and said it would mean many more of their students could now afford a chance at further education.
Leading Bermudian banks and law firms and many Bermuda based international companies offer very good scholarships.
An excellent resource for America's best colleges is in U. S. News and World Report or in its University and College Guide.
Another good USA resource is Online Education from Accredited Colleges & Universities.
Last Updated: July
2, 2009
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