Minister of Education, The Hon. Elvin James, JP, MP
The Bermuda Government offers a continuum of free education to Bermudians from birth to 16. Compulsory school age is by law from 5 years to 16 years of age. Approximately 60% of Bermudian students who are of compulsory school age attend public schools. The remainder attend fee-paying private schools or home schools, which are known in Bermuda as tutorial sites.
Children from birth to 4 years old and their parents are served by the Child Development Programme. A variety of support services, including behaviour management, occupational and physical therapy and psychological services are offered free of charge to parents. Two year olds are assessed by CDP to determine whether their physical, psychological, social and emotional well-being are in target. Where there are concerns, CDP either refers the child and parent for additional support or supplies that support from within its own ranks.
Children who are four years of age can attend one of 10 free public preschools which are located across the Island so that children can go to a neighbourhood preschool. Preschool education is delivered by fully trained teachers ( that is, teachers who have a minimum of a Bachelors degree). Class size is maintained at 10 students per teacher.
The Island’s 18 primary schools are divided in to three zones, or districts. With very rare exceptions, students must attend a school within their zone of residence. The public primary level offers foundation educational experiences to children who are generally between the ages of 5 and 11. Approximately half of these children may have attended one of the 10 free Government preschools prior to entering primary school.
Students leaving primary school matriculate to one of 5 middle schools. Middle schools offer English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies as core courses. Students also have classes in business studies, art, music, design and technology and physical education. The programme at the middle level lasts for 3 years.
At the senior level, students enter one or two public schools, both of which are considered as state of the arts facilities, given that they both have been constructed within the past ten years.
Both senior schools offer a broad range of subjects and afford students the opportunity to delve more in depth in their subjects, with a view to ultimately achieving 104 credits after 4 years in order to be awarded the Bermuda School Certificate or BSC. Senior schools offer external examinations (GCSEs) in various subjects, with the Ministry underwriting the costs of examinations written in the core areas.