Montserrat Secondary School

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
Salem

Montserrat
Coordinates16.7565°N 62.2181°W / 16.7565; -62.2181
Information
TypeSecondary school
MottoQui Non Proficit Deficit
(He who does not progress, regresses.)
Established1938
PrincipalTony Allen
EnrollmentApproximately 340 (in 2016)[1]
AffiliationGovernment 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-present)

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "2015/2016 Montserrat Secondary School Academic Year Report by MSS Principal, Mrs Cherlyn S. Hogan". MNI Alive. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  2. "ABOUT US | MSS ASSOCIATION". mssassociation.org. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "MONTSERRAT SECONDARY SCHOOL REVIEW REPORT." Government of Montserrat. May 2011. p. 6.
  4. "MONTSERRAT SECONDARY SCHOOL REVIEW REPORT." Government of Montserrat. May 2011. p. 7.
  5. "Report of the Technical-Vocational Education and Training Reconnaissance Mission." UNESCO. p. 3 (PDF p. 9/14). Retrieved on 27 November 2017.
  6. "Report of the Technical-Vocational Education and Training Reconnaissance Mission." UNESCO. Annex 1 p. 3 (PDF p. 13/14). Retrieved on 27 November 2017.
  7. Hunter, Brian (editor). The Statesman's Year Book: 1992–93 (29th edition). Springer Science+Business Media, December 29, 2016. ISBN 0230271219, 9780230271210. p. 968.
  8. "History." Montserrat Community College. Retrieved on November 27, 2017.
  9. "Development proposals for: Lookout Primary School, Brades Primary School, Montserrat Secondary School, 2008 MNT 09." Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved on November 24, 2017.
  10. "Development Proposals for: Lookout Primary School Brades Primary School Montserrat Secondary School 2008 MNT 09." Department for International Development UK. p. 5 (PDF p. 8/73). Retrieved on November 24, 2017.
  11. Thompson, Dave (2002) "Reggae & Caribbean Music", Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6, pp. 26–28

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.
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