Harrison College is a co-educational grammar school (

secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...

) in

Bridgetown Bridgetown (UN/LOCODE: BB BGI) is the capital and largest city of Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Island ...

Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate). ...

. 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 Sir Pelham Francis Warner, (2 October 1873 – 30 January 1963), affectionately and better known as Plum Warner or "the Grand Old Man" of English cricket, was a Test cricketer and cricket administrator. He was knighted for services to sport in ...

who later went on to become the "Grand Old Man" of English cricket. Described as "The

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

of Barbados", since Barbados' independence in 1966, five out of Barbados's eight

Prime Ministers A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is no ...

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 A search engine is a software system designed to carry out web searches. They search the World Wide Web in a systematic way for particular information specified in a textual web search query. The search results are generally presented in a l ...

. 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. Entry to the school is governed by results of an examination taken in the last year of primary education, the Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination. Traditionally the top 120 students (top 60 males and 60 females) in the examination are awarded admission into 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 CSEC 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 CSEC 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 Dr. Martin Alleyne as Deputy Principal.

Calendar

The academic year has 37 weeks and is divided into three terms in the traditional model:

Michaelmas Term Michaelmas term is the first academic term of the academic year in a number of English-speaking universities and schools in the northern hemisphere, especially in the United Kingdom. Michaelmas term derives its name from the Feast of St Micha ...

Hilary Term Hilary term is the second academic term of the University of OxfordTrinity 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, 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 Obadele "Oba" Thompson BSS (born 30 March 1976) is a Barbados-born former sprinter, lawyer, author, and speaker. He won Barbados's first and only Olympic medal as an independent country by placing third in the 100 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olymp ...

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

* Sir

Grantley Herbert Adams Sir Grantley Herbert Adams, CMG, QC (28 April 1898 – 28 November 1971) was a Barbadian politician. He served as the inaugural premier of Barbados from 1953 to 1958 and then became the first and only prime minister of the West Indies Federa ...

– former Premier and Prime Minister of West Indies Federation *

John Michael Geoffrey Manningham Adams Jon Michael Geoffrey Manningham Adams (September 24, 1931 – March 11, 1985), known as Tom Adams, was a Barbadian politician who served as the second prime minister of Barbados from 1976 until 1985. Biography Personal life The only son of Si ...

– former Prime Minister *

Owen Arthur Owen Seymour Arthur, PC (17 October 194927 July 2020) was a Barbadian politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Barbados from 6 September 1994 to 15 January 2008. He is the longest-serving Barbadian prime minister to date. He also ...

– former Prime Minister * Errol Walton Barrow – former Premier and first Prime Minister of Barbados, decorated WWII RAF Flying Officer *

Alfred Pakenham Berkeley Alfred Pakenham Berkeley (9 March 1862 – 15 May 1938) was an English divine: Bishop of Barbados and the Windward Islands from 1917 to 1927; and Bishop of the Windward Islands from 1927 to 1930. Alfred Berkeley was the son of R. Fitzharding Be ...

– former

Bishop of Barbados The Diocese of Barbados is one of eight dioceses of the Anglican Communion that is part of the Province of the West Indies. History The diocese was established in 1824 as one of a pair, the other being the Diocese of Jamaica, which covered the ...

* Andrea Blackett – athlete, Commonwealth Games gold medalist * Dr

Henry Edmund Gaskin Boyle Henry Edmund Gaskin Boyle OBE (2 April 1875 – 15 October 1941) was a pioneering anaesthetist best remembered for the development of early anaesthetic machines. Early life Born in Barbados, he was the only child of Henry Eudolphus Boyle, es ...

(1875–1941), British anaesthetist, inventor of the Boyle's Machine *

Ian Bradshaw Ian David Russell Bradshaw (born 9 July 1974) is a former Barbadian cricketer who played for the West Indies cricket team as a left-arm fast bowler in all three formats of the game. In September 2004, Bradshaw was a member of the West Indies t ...

– cricketer *

Robin Bynoe Michael Robin Bynoe (born February 23, 1941 in Black Rock, Saint Michael, Barbados) is a former West Indian cricketer who played in four Tests between 1959 and 1967. Career Bynoe had played only two first-class matches when he was picked for t ...

– Test cricketer * Marsha K. Caddle - politician and economist * Austin Clarke - Writer * Rupert "Rupee" Clarke – entertainer * Dr

Richard Drayton Richard Drayton FRHistS (born 1964) is a Guyana-born historian and Rhodes Professor of Imperial History at King's College London. Biography Richard Drayton was born in Guyana in 1964, to parents Kathleen (nee McCracken; 1930–2009) and Harold D ...

– historian, Rhodes Professor of Imperial History, King's College London *

Gilbert Elliott Gilbert Elliott (December 10, 1843 – May 9, 1895) was builder of the ironclad ram CSS ''Albemarle''. Family Elliott's parents were Gilbert Elliott (May 20, 1813 – May 20, 1851) and Sarah Ann Grice (June 1, 1819 – April 22, 1891 ...

(1870–unknown), first-class cricketer *

Greenidge Elliott Greenidge Elliott (21 October 1861 – 8 December 1895) was a Barbadian cricketer. He played in one first-class match for the Barbados cricket team in 1883/84. See also * List of Barbadian representative cricketers This is a list of all crick ...

(1861–1895), first-class cricketer * Alan Emtage – computer scientist - inventor of Archie, the world's first search engine * Dr

Abel Hendy Jones Greenidge Abel Hendy Jones Greenidge (22 December 1865 – 11 March 1906) was a writer on ancient history and law. Early life and education Greenidge was born on 22 December 1865 at Belle Farm Estate, Barbados, the second son of the Rev. Nathaniel Hea ...

– Writer and lecturer Ancient History, Balliol, Brasenose and Hertford Colleges, Oxford *

Charles Wilton Wood Greenidge Charles Wilton Wood Greenidge was the vice president of the Anti-Slavery Society in 1968. He was secretary of the society from 1941-1956 and director from 1957–1958. Early life Greenidge was born on 10 January 1889 in the parish of St Jam ...

– former Judge of Court Appeal Barbados, Solicitor General and Attorney General Trinidad, Chief Justice of British Honduras and Solicitor General of Nigeria * Adrian Griffith – former Barbados and West Indies opening batsman * Jason Haynes – Barbados Senior Cricket Captain, 2008 *

David Holford David Anthony Jerome Holford (16 April 1940 – 30 May 2022) was a West Indian cricketer who played in 24 Test matches between 1966 and 1977. Career Holford was born on 16 April 1940 at Upper Collymore Rock, Saint Michael, Barbados, and was ...

–

Test cricket Test cricket is a form of first-class cricket played at international level between teams representing full member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC). A match consists of four innings (two per team) and is scheduled to last fo ...

er *Anthony Howard- Test cricketer, West Indies Team manager & Former Director of Cricket WICB * Sir

Clifford Husbands Sir Clifford Straughn Husbands GCMG KStJ KA QC (5 August 1926 – 11 October 2017) was a Barbadian judge who served as the sixth Governor-General of Barbados. He held this office from 1996, when he was appointed after the death of Nita Barrow, ...

– former Governor-General *

Shontelle Shontelle Layne (born 4 October 1985), known mononymously as Shontelle, is a Barbadian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album ''Shontelligence'' in 2008. Her second album, '' No Gravity'', was released in 2010. Her singles "T-Shirt ...

Layne – singer, songwriter * Sir

Roy Marshall Roy Edwin Marshall (25 April 1930 – 27 October 1992) was a West Indian cricketer who played in four Tests from 1951 to 1952. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1959. Early career The son of a wealthy plantation owner, Marshall was bo ...

- former Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and the

University of Hull The University of Hull is a public research university in Kingston upon Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1927 as University College Hull. The main university campus is located in Hull and is home to the Hull ...

, former High Commissioner from Barbados to the United Kingdom * George Moe – former Attorney General of Barbados and

Chief Justice of Belize The Chief Justice of Belize is the head of the Supreme Court of Belize. Under Chapter 7 of the Constitution of Belize, the Chief Justice is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Since the retirement of Kenneth ...

* Carlie Pipe – long-distance runner and national record holder in the half marathon *

Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, KA, PC (born 24 March 1937) is a Barbadian politician. He served as the fourth prime minister of Barbados from 1987 to 1994. Later Sir Lloyd served as Barbados' first resident ambassador in Beijing, China from 20 ...

– former Prime Minister * Sir

Arleigh Winston Scott Sir Arleigh Winston Scott (27 March 1900 – 9 August 1976) was the second governor-general of Barbados between 18 May 1967 and 9 August 1976. Biography The first native Governor-General of Barbados, Scott was educated at St. Giles Boys' ...

– former

Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

and first native Barbadian to hold that office *

M. P. Shiel Matthew Phipps Shiell (21 July 1865 – 17 February 1947), known as M. P. Shiel, was a British writer. His legal surname remained "Shiell" though he adopted the shorter version as a ''de facto'' pen name. He is remembered mainly for supernatura ...

– novelist *

Cammie Smith Cameron Wilberforce Smith (born 29 July 1933) is a former West Indian international cricketer who played in five Test matches from 1960 to 1962. Smith attended Harrison College in Bridgetown. At the age of 18 he made 80 on his first-class deb ...

– Test cricketer * Sir Hugh Springer – former Governor-General * Sir

Harold Bernard St. John Sir Harold Bernard St. John, KA (16 August 1931 – 29 February 2004) was a Barbadian politician who served as the third prime minister of Barbados from 1985 to 1986. To date, he is the shortest serving Barbadian prime minister. He was leader o ...

– former Prime Minister *

–

Track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping events ...

athlete, Olympic bronze medalist * Sir

Clyde Walcott Sir Clyde Leopold Walcott KA, GCM, OBE (17 January 1926 – 26 August 2006) was a West Indian cricketer. Walcott was a member of the "three W's", the other two being Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell: all were very successful batsmen from Barb ...

– Test cricketer * Sir

Deighton Lisle Ward Sir Deighton Harcourt Lisle Ward (16 May 1909 – 9 January 1984) graduated from Harrison College in Bridgetown. He served as third governor-general of Barbados from 1976 to 1984 Biography In 1958, he was one of the candidates of the Barbado ...

– former Governor-General * Sir Pelham Warner "

Plum Warner Sir Pelham Francis Warner, (2 October 1873 – 30 January 1963), affectionately and better known as Plum Warner or "the Grand Old Man" of English cricket, was a Test cricketer and cricket administrator. He was knighted for services to sport in ...

" – the Grand Old Man of English cricket *

Henry Wilcoxon Harry Frederick Wilcoxon (8 September 1905 – 6 March 1984), known as Henry Wilcoxon, was an actor born in Roseau, Dominica, British West Indies, and who was a leading man in many of Cecil B. DeMille's films, also serving as DeMille's associ ...

– actor * Sir Denys Williams – former Chief Justice of Barbados * Rev.

Guy Hewitt Guy Arlington Kenneth Hewitt (born November 1967) is a Barbadian British Anglican priest, racial justice advocate, and specialist in social policy and development. He held the ambassadorial appointment of High Commissioner of Barbados in Lond ...

- former High Commissioner from Barbados to the United Kingdom

References

External links

Official site
– Harrison College
– The Old Harrisonian Society
– Official Alumni Charity {{Coord, 13.100109, -59.610299, type:edu_globe:earth_region:BB, display=title Schools in Barbados Saint Michael, Barbados Educational institutions established in 1733 1733 establishments in North America 1733 establishments in the British Empire