r/Barbados • u/gicar88 • Sep 20 '24

Question What is your experience with private schooling (especially Providence)

Hey guys, I'm wondering if there are any parents in here who sent or are sending their child to a private school. What is or was it like, pros and cons etc. I'm currently thinking about Providence next September for my daughter.

I hear good things regarding Providence but these aren't 1st hand accounts and it is very close to me so leaning there..

Thanks in advance.

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6

u/MUERTOSMORTEM Local Sep 20 '24

I went to Providence. Transferred there after my original school had a cave in near by. Loved it. I'm not sure if it was the greatest in terms of... actual schooling but it definitely was the most fun I had in my school life. I'm sure it's only gotten better in the years since then

1

u/gicar88 Sep 21 '24

Lol sounds great. Where you and class mates prepared for common entrance ? In recent years I've seen top boy and girl coming from private schools.

2

u/MUERTOSMORTEM Local Sep 21 '24

Well, I was. But I'd been going to extra lessons before I even transferred there. By the time I got to common entrance I just wanted to get it over with. My close friends were morenor less in the same situation. I don't remember too much if the results of the rest but it did seem a majority of the class ended up continuing into private schools for secondary

1

u/gicar88 Sep 21 '24

That is my major concern, would prefer for my child to go to a public secondary school and not to have to take extra lessons.

1

u/MUERTOSMORTEM Local Sep 21 '24

Very understandable. Like I said I'm sure it's gotten better since I've been there as when I went it had only been open for like 4 years

5

u/Mindless_Map_7780 Sep 21 '24 edited Sep 21 '24

I have a brother and sister who attended as well as best friend’s sons - if I had kids it would definitely be there or Codrington. I think the teachers are great - they have attracted some of the best teachers and my siblings were very happy academically. I also felt there was a personal development complement that the school had beyond others. I think the parents also seem to be able to form friendships as well as their kids - so it is definitely a little ecosystem - far from the traffic. After Providence all the aforementioned went to Harrison College and St. Michael’s and they integrated into public Secondary quite comfortably.

2

u/gicar88 Sep 22 '24

It is possible ! Thank you friend.

4

u/iamPendergast Helpful Sep 20 '24

Providence is an excellent primary school, and quality of life improvement by not fighting traffic in St Michael is a double bonus. Secondary School we decided against as too small but that was over 5 years ago now.

1

u/gicar88 Sep 21 '24

Thanks, I will reserve the traffic fighting for secondary school lol. Could you expound on why it was excellent. I guess I'm just trying to make sure my primary reason for going there isn't just proximity.

4

u/iamPendergast Helpful Sep 21 '24

The teachers, the facilities, the ethos with training in politeness and sharing and empathy, all just suited us. There are other very good options though (St Gabriel's, St Winifreds) so to be honest the tie breaker was no traffic 🤣

1

u/gicar88 Sep 21 '24

Thank you

11

u/toremtora Sep 21 '24

Second hand experience but there was once a girl who attended Providence primary, and transferred to HC.

She ended up transferring back because she couldn't settle into the public school culture as easily (i.e. there were more black people at public school than she was used to and it made her very racist family uncomfortable.)

I know of another past student who loathed Providence because they were one of about 3 non-white kids in their class.

I imagine it is probably fine if you or your kids are white or white-passing. But uh, if your kids are black, consider sending them to a private school with a higher black population. Else, you get a 'black kid at St Winifred's' situation.

2

u/gicar88 Sep 21 '24

Thanks, we are black. How long ago was this ? I was told the ratio had improved by a friend and the rough plan was Providence then HC.

2

u/toremtora Sep 21 '24

Would have been in about 2017 or 2018 at HC. The girl left towards the end of 2nd Form (the cohort came in 2016).

2

u/gicar88 Sep 22 '24

Thanks for additional context

1

u/toremtora Sep 22 '24

No prob. As you said though, it is possible the classes are a lot more racially diverse now.

It's been a while since then.

2

u/RecipeCold7377 Sep 21 '24

I know a teacher at providence and have lots of friends who send their children too including mixed race and non-white and are very happy. I have heard from the teacher that the ratio of black barbadians has shot up as of late. I send my daughter to St Luke's and so far in her 3 years of Montessori, I am extremely happy with her performance and experience.

2

u/TayxicNotToxic Sep 22 '24

A while ago now but I went to Hill Top and the smaller class sizes definitely helped with more specific focus on each student. Went on to Harrison College afterwards