Harrison College

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Harrison College is an elite Secondary School in Bridgetown, Barbados. Harrison College is a co-educational grammar school. Founded in 1733, the school takes its name from Thomas Harrison, a Bridgetown merchant, who intended it to serve as "A Public and Free School for the poor and indigent boys of the parish".

It thereafter has evolved into one of the most prestigious sixth form secondary schools in the Caribbean as evidenced by the fact that since Barbados' independence in 1966, four out of its six Prime Ministers have been alumni of Harrison College.

It was an all boys school for most of its history until the early 1980s when co-education was introduced.

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[edit] Location

The school is spread over several acres in Crumpton Street, at the heart of the country's capital, Bridgetown.The campus includes: an assembly hall; library; laboratories for music, art, physics, chemistry, and biology; two large playing fields in addition to basketball and tennis courts; headmaster's residence, faculty retreat and an outdoor firing range maintained by the school's cadet corps.

[edit] Accreditation

Harrison College is one of 24 public secondary schools accredited by the Ministry of Education of Barbados. Students gain entry to the school on the results of a competitive examination, the Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination at the age of 11 years. The school has a high academic reputation, having had the fortune of receiving the top performers in this examination.

At the end of their fifth year students write the General Certificate of Secondary Education examination set by the Caribbean Examinations Council(CXC). This examination has replaced the Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level examination and is of an equivalent standard.

Two years later, at the end of their Upper Sixth form year, students used to write the Cambridge General Certificate of Education at Advanced Level which has been replaced in more recent years by the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination. Typically, Harrison College has maintained a minimum 75% pass rate at CXC and 70% at 'A' Level and CAPE. Since 1990, 150 students have attained Barbados Scholarships and Government Awards.

[edit] Structure

The school's population is in the range of 800 to 900 students. The Junior School(Forms 1-3) has 363 students who take a broad range of subjects which include English, French, Spanish, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Integrated Science, Geography, History, Woodwork, Metalwork, Music, Art, Religious Studies, Technical Drawing and Physical Education.

In the fourth year all students start a two year course leading to a Certificate of Secondary Education. Students are required to take English, Mathematics, one science subject (Physics, Chemistry or Biology), one language (either French or Spanish) and one social science (either History or Geography). They are also given the choice of two other subjects chosen from among foreign languages, science, History or Geography, Art, Technical Drawing, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, and Information Technology. Students are required to take at least eight subjects.

Nearly all students continue their studies at Sixth Form Level and entry is dependent on a satisfactory performance at the CXC Examination. There is a great flexibility of choice at sixth form level as a wide range of subjects is offered to suit a wide range of interests, university requirements and ability.

[edit] The Faculty

The college has sixty faculty members, including part time staff, fifty-three of whom have Bachelor's degrees and ten of whom hold Master's degrees.

[edit] The Calendar

The academic year has thirty-seven weeks and is divided into three terms in the traditional model: Michaelmas Term, Hilary Term and Trinity Term. Detailed reports of students are sent to parents at the end of each term. In addition, mid-term reports are sent to parents of students in forms 1-5.

[edit] Careers

The great majority of students leaving Harrison College pursue some form of higher education, going to universities and colleges in the U.S.A, Canada, the United Kingdom, as well as the regional University of the West Indies (U.W.I). A specially appointed Guidance Counsellor is on staff and one of the duties attached to this post is to advise students on the choice of careers.

[edit] Evaluation

Grade point averages are not used. Instead, marks in individual subjects are reported by means of percentages and in forms 1-5 the student's rank in each subject is reported.

[edit] Activities

Within the school grounds there are adequate playing facilities. A wide variety of sporting activities including cricket, football, lawn-tennis, table-tennis, volleyball, netball, basketball, hockey, and swimming is offered. Competitive fixtures are arranged with local club teams as well as other teams.

Strong emphasis is placed on sports and the school has produced athletes who have represented the country at the national, regional and international levels. 2000 Olympics 100 m bronze medallist Obadele Thompson is an alumnus of the school.

The school has won numerous national school titles in a variety of sports including cricket, football, volleyball, hockey, track and field, swimming and tennis.

Music plays a very important role in the life of the school. The Harrison College ensemble has given public performances at home and overseas.

The school has the following societies and clubs: Chess Club, Photographic Club, Science Club, Key Club, Environmental Club, Girl Guides, Cub Scouts, Debating Society, Inter-School Christian Fellowship and an active Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. There is an active P.T.A and Alumni Association.

[edit] School Uniform

Wearing a school uniform is compulsory at Harrison College as it is at all public and private schools in Barbados. Junior boys are required to wear khaki shorts and shirts with epaulets in the school colours of maroon and gold. Junior girls wear a beige dress with a belt in the school colours. Senior boys are required to wear white shirts and grey slacks and senior girls wear white shirts and grey skirts. Seniors may wear either epaulets or a school tie. Shoes for juniors must be be brown and for seniors, black.

On special occasions, navy blue blazers bearing the school crest and motto "In Deo Fides" may be worn.


[edit] Alumni

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