Combermere School

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First level school in Barbados, founded 1695

title: "Combermere School" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["schools-in-barbados", "educational-institutions-established-in-the-1690s", "saint-michael,-barbados", "1695-establishments-in-the-british-empire"] description: "First level school in Barbados, founded 1695" topic_path: "society/education" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combermere_School" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary First level school in Barbados, founded 1695 ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox school"]

FieldValue
imageSchool Image.jpg
former_nameDrax Parish School
established
founderColonel Henry Drax
staff
::

| image = School Image.jpg | former_name = Drax Parish School | established = | founder = Colonel Henry Drax | staff =

Combermere School is a school in Barbados, one of the oldest schools in the Caribbean, established in 1695. Its alumni include several leading cricketers, David Thompson, sixth prime minister of Barbados and other politicians, several authors and the singer Rihanna. In its first 75 years, the school "provided the Barbadian community with the vast bulk of its business leaders and civil servants" and it is "perhaps the first school anywhere to offer secondary education to black children".

History

The school was established in 1695 as the Drax Parish School, under the 1682 will of plantation owner Colonel Henry Drax (great-uncle of the Whig politician Henry Drax), who had left 2000 pounds sterling for the establishment and endowment of a "free school or Colledge" "to continue forever". The executors not having acted in a timely manner, the parish authorities eventually did. The oldest secondary school on Barbados and one of the oldest schools in the Caribbean, it underwent several name changes and relocations before settling within the Parish of St Michael, at Waterford, on the outskirts of the capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, in 1819.

The school, named after a colonial governor of Barbados, Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere, bears tribute to some of the school forefathers through the naming of areas such as the Drax Square, the De Vere Moore Gardens, and the Major Noot Hall. It was the first school to offer secondary education to poorer coloured students on the island. Having started as a co-educational institution, it returned to a mixed approach in the 1970s, eventually reaching a gender ratio of around 50%.

In 1995, Barbados issued a set of postage stamps commemorating the school's 300 years.

In 2016, the school was closed due to environmental concerns. The remediation efforts were slowed by alleged sabotage, but the school eventually reopened in 2017.

Staff and structure

Combermere is led by a principal, assisted by a deputy principal; there are also six year heads for first form through to the upper sixth. There are over 70 staff in total, including a guidance counsellor.

Departments and subjects

The school has 12 departments, each headed by a senior teacher. The departments are: chemistry, mathematics, geography/social studies and environmental science, physics, biology and home economics, English, music and fine arts, physical education, technical and vocational studies, history, foreign languages, and business studies. There are dedicated labs and rooms for chemistry, biology, geography, physics, languages, music, computer science, and food and nutrition. The school has a pavilion equipped with a gym and changing rooms. There are two playing fields, a cricket pitch, shooting range, basketball/netball and tennis/volleyball courts. Also included on the premises are a library and an auditorium — the Major Noot Hall — and it one of the few secondary schools on Barbados, if not the only one, with a meteorological station.

Combermere offers a music programme. It is also home to the Number 3 Cadet Company.

Alumni

References

References

  1. "Combermere School".
  2. Sandiford, Keith A. P.. (1998). "Cricket Nurseries of Colonial Barbados: The Elite Schools, 1865-1966". Press [[University of the West Indies]].
  3. (2003). "A-Z of Barbados Heritage". Macmillan Caribbean.
  4. (March 9, 2016). "A point of clarity on location of Combermere". Nation News.
  5. "Combermere School (MRD {{!}} Secondary Schools)".
  6. "Phildom Philatelly".
  7. (21 March 2017). "Problems still at Combermere".
  8. (7 February 2017). "Jones gives details of Combermere 'sabotage'".
  9. (6 January 2017). "School to start next week at Combermere".
  10. (28 January 2017). "More Combermere Drama (Ministry and BSTU's reports differ on environmental situation)". [[Barbados Advocate]].
  11. (11 June 1980). "Growing up stupid: By one who didn't". Red Deer Advocate.
  12. "Kraigg Brathwaite: Short balls in the nets was my welcome".
  13. "Barbadian X Factor winner and Rihanna went to the same school". Loop News.
  14. Best, Tony. (2017-12-10). "Economist Charles Skeete passes away". [[The Daily Nation (Barbados)]].
  15. (9 April 2017). "Bajan's wand ready for next oil spill". NationNews.com.
  16. Sandiford, Keith A. P.. (1998). "Cricket Nurseries of Colonial Barbados". Press University of the West Indies.
  17. "Errol Walton Barrow". Caribbean Elections Biography.

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schools-in-barbadoseducational-institutions-established-in-the-1690ssaint-michael,-barbados1695-establishments-in-the-british-empire