Wolmer's Schools

Wolmer's Schools, also referred to as Wolmer's Trust Group of Schools in Kingston, Jamaica, currently consists of Wolmer's Pre-School, Wolmer's Preparatory School and two high schools: Wolmer's Trust High School For Girls and Wolmer's Trust High School for Boys. Both are schools of choice for many Jamaican students sitting Primary Exit Profile examinations. While acknowledged as separate institutions, each school shares a school song, crest, and motto, "Age Quod Agis", a Latin phrase that translates as "Whatever you do, do it well". Another English translation is “Whatever you do, do it to the best of your abilities”. Wolmer's Schools closely resemble British schools of the 1950s more than those today, a trend that can be noted of the entire Jamaican schooling system.[2] Wolmer's Boys' and Girls' have been deemed some of the top schools in the Caribbean and performs well in exit examinations (CSEC/CAPE), especially in the Sciences and Mathematics.

Wolmer's Group of Schools
Address
National Heroes Circle

Kingston 4

Jamaica
Coordinates17.9860805°N 76.7865694°W / 17.9860805; -76.7865694
Information
School typeSecondary school and
Preparatory School
MottoAge Quod Agis
Founded1729 (1729)
FounderJohn Wolmer
StatusOpen
School code01042/01043[1]
PrincipalMr. Dwight Pennycooke
(Wolmer's Boys' School)
Mrs Colleen Montague
(Wolmer's Girls' School)
Ms Kemar Christie
(Wolmer's Prep School)
GradesKindergarten to 13
GenderBoys/Girls/Co-ed
Age3 to 19
Campus typeUrban
Colour(s)   Maroon and Gold
Nickname'The Maroons' or 'Maroon-clad Warriors'

Wolmer's Girls' was ranked second in the Reform of Education in Jamaica 2021 for top value-added traditional/secondary school in the island.

Wolmer’s Girls’ is ranked fourth, in the 2023 Educate Jamaica High School Rankings. Wolmer’s Boys is ranked seventh.

History

Wolmer's is the second-oldest high school in the Caribbean, having been established in 1729 by John Wolmer, a goldsmith, who bequeathed £2,360 for the establishment of a Free School. However, it did not come into existence until 1736, when the Wolmer's Trust was set up.[3]

The oldest is Combermere School, in Barbados, originally the Drax Parish School, established in 1695 by the will of Colonel Henry Drax, a son of Sir James Drax, of 1682.[4] The third (by record thus far) being Harrison College in Barbados, formerly Harrison Free School, established in 1733.

Wolmer's is certainly the oldest school in the Caribbean to retain its original name. It turned into a group of schools, which was completely overhauled during the educational reforms of Governor John Peter Grant, who brought two new schoolmasters over from England.[5]

Wolmer's is the oldest continually operating school in Jamaica.[3]

Curriculum

At the secondary-school level, Wolmer's Schools follow the traditional English grammar-school model used throughout the British West Indies, which incorporates the optional year 12 and 13, collectively known as Sixth Form. The first year of secondary school is regarded as first form, or grade seven, and the subsequent year groups are numbered in increasing order up to sixth form, or grade twelve and grade thirteen. The school offers a variety of CSEC and CAPE subjects done at the fourth, fifth and sixth form levels respectively. It has been known for being the only all-boys school in Jamaica to be ranked in the top ten high schools on the island. The Girls' School is also placed highly in various sources as being one of the best in the country.

Rhodes Scholars

Since 1904, Wolmer's Schools has educated 24 Rhodes Scholars.[6]

Cricket

Wolmer's Boys School has the most wins of the Sunlight Cup for Inter-Scholastic Under 19 Cricket. Moreover, the school continues to produce cricketers that have represented Jamaica and the West Indies Cricket Team. The school is noted in cricket in the West Indies for having produced six test wicket-keepers. The Daily Telegraph once wrote: "One school: six Test wicket-keepers. There has never been any nurturing like it."[7]

Notable alumni

[8]

Arts, culture and entertainment

Business, finance and politics

Sports

References
  1. "Directory of Public Educational Institutions" (PDF). Ministry of Education, Jamaica. 10 October 2005. p. 2. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  2. " British pupils sent to Jamaican school", BBC News, 11 March 2002.
  3. "5 Oldest High Schools in Jamaica". The Jamaica Gleaner. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  4. Keith A. P. Sandiford; Earl H. Newton (1995). Combermere School and the Barbadian Society. UWI Press. ISBN 9789766400149.
  5. Marsala, Vincent John (1967). Sir John Peter Grant, Governor of Jamaica, 1866–1874: an Administrative History. Retrieved 10 June 2019. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  6. "Register of Jamaican Rhodes Scholars". 2002. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  7. "West Indies a small world of cricketing connections", Scyld Berry, The Daily Telegraph, 15 March 2004.
  8. Daily Gleaner February 4, 1974
  9. Krista Henry, "Jamaican actor Heron challenges 'Hamlet'", Jamaica Gleaner, 25 April 2007.
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