The Montserrat Secondary School, often referred to for short as MSS, is the only pre-16 years of age secondary school on the island of Montserrat. The school's campus is currently located in Salem. Prior to 2004 it was responsible for Montserrat's sixth-form education (post-16); currently Montserrat Community College (MCC) now offers Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) sixth-form classes.
| Montserrat Secondary School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 16°45′23″N 62°13′05″W / 16.7565°N 62.2181°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Secondary school |
| Motto | Qui Non Proficit Deficit (He who does not progress, regresses.) |
| Established | 1938 |
| Principal | Cheryln Hogan |
| Enrollment | Approximately 340 (in 2016)[1] |
| Affiliation | Government of Montserrat |
History
It was established by the 1938 merger of a government boys' secondary school, Montserrat Boys Grammar School, and a private girls' secondary school.[2] Originally not all Montserrat citizens had the right to a secondary education, and the school chose which students may be admitted. A May 2011 Montserrat government report stated that the school "produced excellent results and enjoyed national esteem" in that time.[3] Wealthier families were the main clientele of MSS.[2]
There were 64 students in 1941. In 1955 its senior/modern school opened. In 1971 its junior school opened. The May 2011 government report stated that these new divisions "did not substantially alter the elitist nature of the school."[4] The school has multiple locations before settling in Salem.[2]
In 1986 secondary education became universal in Montserrat, and the report stated this, as well as the 1997 Soufrière Hills volcanic eruption, which reduced the student population, altered the school's culture.[4] As a result of the establishment of universal secondary education, MSS established three branch junior school campuses in Dagenham, Salem, and Thompson Field.[2]
In the pre-1997 period it was the sole school with upper secondary education, with its senior secondary division being the Montserrat Senior Secondary School,[5] and its junior secondary being a lower section.[6] The campuses together had 1,043 students in 1988.[7]
The volcanic eruption and population loss resulted in the dissolution of MSS's sixth-form college; Montserrat Community College took over sixth-form studies upon its opening in 2004.[8] The school now has a single campus in Salem.
By 2011 the teacher population had a lack of stability, contrasting with local-origin teachers of previous generations. In addition, and multiple "behavioural problems" had occurred "for several years". In 2011 there were 300 students; some of the school's students had English as a second language as they were immigrants.[4]
Campus
It occasionally closed during ash falls as it is in the volcano's ash shadow.[9] A report from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) stated that the school is a long distance from the major settlements in northern Montserrat.[10]
Principals of the Montserrat Secondary School, 1928 – present
- H. G. Carrington (1928–1957)
- Vincent Bennett Browne (1957–1968)
- Mr Holden
- Mr Hoppy
- Charles T. John (1976–1979)
- Peter White (1979–1990)
- Oeslyn Jemmotte (1990–1993)
- Lucy Fenton (1993–1995)
- Camela Watts (1995–1998)
- Kathleen Greenaway (1998–2004)
- Glen Francis (2004–2006)
- Alric Taylor (2006–2009)
- Cherlyn Hogan (2009–2020)
- Tony Allen (2020-2023)
- Cherlyn Hogan (2023-present)
Notable alumni
- Arrow, a calypsonian and soca musician named Alphonsus Celestine Edmund Cassell, who is regarded as the first superstar of soca from Montserrat.[11]
- Donaldson Romeo, the second Premier of Montserrat.
- Sheree Jemmotte-Rodney, the current acting Attorney General of Montserrat.
See also
References
Further reading
- John, C.T. "The Montserrat Secondary School Cadet Corps." 1988. In: Fergus, H. (editor). The Royal Montserrat Defence Force, 1848–1998: A Force for Good. Royal Montserrat Defence Force. p. 36-38.
External links
- "MONTSERRAT SECONDARY SCHOOL REVIEW REPORT." Government of Montserrat. May 2011.