Private schools suffer due to expat exodus

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12: Private schools have been hit hard by an increasing number of expat families leaving the island.

Schools have seen class numbers shrink and some have been forced to do away with classes altogether due to the exodus.

Malcolm Durrant, deputy headmaster at Saltus Grammar School revealed that departing expat families was the ‘most significant factor’ in the school’s student attrition over the past two years.

He said between 2009-10 a total of 59 students left Saltus through family relocation, while 43 students left for the same reason in the last school year.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “In the 2009-10 year, it accounted for 40.4 per cent of our leavers and last year, although smaller, still represented 30.5 per cent.

“We have noticed the impact to be more significant in the primary years, probably because many of the expatriates coming to the island tend to be of an age when their children would be at that particular level.
“Naturally, this has had an impact upon overall numbers, and therefore class size, although — with the economic difficulties facing everyone — it is certainly not the only factor.

Budgetary decisions

“Fortunately, we were able to see the writing on the wall and make the necessary proactive, often difficult, budgetary decisions, particularly those affecting personnel.

“One of these was to go from four classes to three in our current Year 5.”

Linda Parker, head of Bermuda High School, said enrolling pupil numbers had dropped due to families leaving the island.

She added: “Enrolment in independent schools tends to have a correlation with the available pool of families that would choose an independent school education. 

“We have noted that we have a decrease in enrolment for this academic year due to families leaving the island. 

“The current enrolment at BHS is consistent with our five-year history.

 “We are fortunate that a large portion of our student population is Bermudian and continue to value an all girls education from Years 1-11 and a co-educational IB education for Years 12 and 13.

“We have had an increase in the requests for financial assistance, and this has been met by increased support from the community, both private and corporate.”

Dave Horan, deputy head at Warwick Academy said that although the school had seen some expat students leave the island, the school’s official roll was up by five pupils.

He added: “Our official roll is 770 students compared to 765 last year. So we have not seen a fall.

“We have seen some expats leave but their places have been taken by locals or other expats arriving on the island.”