Harrison College (Barbados)
| Harrison College | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Motto | In Deo Fides |
| Established | 1733 |
| Principal | Miss Juanita Wade |
| Campus | Bridgetown, 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".
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. Described as "The Eton College of Barbados", since Barbados' independence in 1966, five out of Barbados's seven 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 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 1977, 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.
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.
Harrison College is one of 22 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 1997, students may opt to go to other schools.
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