Harrison College (Barbados)

Harrison College is a co-educational grammar school (secondary school) in Bridgetown, Barbados. 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".

Not to be confused with Harrison College (Indiana).
Harrison College
Information
MottoIn Deo Fides
(Trust In God)
Established1733 (1733)
PrincipalMiss Juanita Wade
Vice PrincipalMartin
CampusBridgetown, Barbados

Even in the nineteenth century it was recognised as perhaps the most prestigious secondary school in the British West Indies, attracting boys from neighbouring islands, including Pelham Warner who later went on to become the "Grand Old Man" of English cricket.[1] Described as "The Eton College of Barbados", since Barbados' independence in 1966, five out of Barbados's eight Prime Ministers have been alumni of Harrison College, among whom are also numbered the national poet Kamau Brathwaite and Alan Emtage the co-inventor of Archie, the world's first Internet search engine.

The school is responsible for the production of at least 65% of all government scholars or exhibition winners since the government introduced these aids to help funding with tertiary education.

It was an all-boys school for most of its history, with girls admitted to the Sixth Form in at least 1970 and to the lower forms in September 1980. Since the 1960s, no fees have been attached to study at Harrison College, but entry is by a competitive national examination. Harrison College or "Kolij" as it is more affectionately known to its students and alumni has been a cornerstone of Barbadian education since its establishment in 1733.

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 and treasurer's offices, faculty retreat and an outdoor firing range maintained by the school's cadet corps.

Accreditation

Harrison College is one of 21 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. Traditionally the top 120 students (top 60 males and 60 females) in the examination are awarded entry to the school. However, after zoning was implemented in 1996, students may opt to go to other schools.

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 by the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination. 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.

Structure

The school's population is 1000 to 1100 students. The Junior School (Forms 1–3) has around 360 students who take 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 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 range of interests, university requirements and ability.

Faculty

The college has sixty-three faculty members, including part-time staff, fifty-three of whom have bachelor's degrees and ten of whom hold master's degrees. The principal is Miss Juanita Wade, with Mr David McCarthy as Deputy Principal.

Calendar

The academic year has 37 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.

Careers

The great majority of students leaving Harrison College pursue some form of higher education, going to universities and colleges in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, as well as the regional University of the West Indies. A Guidance Counsellor is on staff to advise students on the choice of careers.

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.

Activities

The student population is divided into four houses for competitive academic and sporting events called "inter-house". The four Houses are "A" Armstrong- blue; "B" Deighton-red; "C" Collymore- green and "D" Dalton- yellow.The houses have strong traditions as relatives of past students are normally allocated to the same house their brothers, sisters, fathers or mothers were in.

Within the school grounds there are playing facilities for include cricket, football, lawn-tennis, table-tennis, volleyball, netball, basketball, hockey, rugby, track and field and swimming. 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 medalist Obadele Thompson and 1998 Commonwealth Games and then 400 m hurdles champion Andrea Blackett are alumni of the school.

The school has won national school titles in sports that include cricket, football, volleyball, hockey, track and field, swimming, netball, rugby and tennis.

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

The school has societies and clubs – the Computer and Information Technology Club, Chess Club, Photographic Club, Science Club, Key Club, Environmental Club, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Debating Society, Inter-School Christian Fellowship, an active Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and a table tennis club. There is a P.T.A and Alumni Association.

The #1 company of the Barbados Cadet Corps formerly consisting of students from Harrison College and its sister school Queen's College (now the #21 company) was the first company formed at the inception of the Corps over 100 years ago.

Uniform
  • Wearing uniform is compulsory at Harrison College. Junior boys wear khaki shorts and shirts with epaulettes in the school colours of maroon and gold. They also wear khaki knee high socks with brown laced dress shoes.
  • Junior girls wear a mustard dress with a belt in the school colours (maroon and gold), white ankle high socks also with brown laced dress shoes.
  • Senior boys are required to wear white buttoned down, short sleeved shirts and grey slacks and senior girls wear white buttoned down short sleeve shirts and grey A-Line skirts. Seniors may wear either epaulettes or a school tie in the school colours of maroon and gold. Shoes for seniors are black laced dress shoes. Males must wear dark coloured socks, females white ankle high socks.
  • On special occasions, navy blue blazers bearing the school crest and motto "In Deo Fides" (Trust in God) may be worn by the senior school students.
  • Additionally, there are two ties that can be acquired by the students. Students earn these ties for athletic achievement (called Colours) and one for making a substantial contribution to a club (extracurricular activity).

Notable alumni
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See also

References
  1. The Overwhelming Influence of Harrison College. University Press of the West Indies. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  2. "In Remembrance" (PDF). Newsletter of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. 5 (8/9): 14–15. August–September 2004.

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