An enviable record of excellence
RICHMOND PARK Preparatory School has been in existence for over 60 years, having started in the early 1950s, but was registered with the Ministry of Education in 1976.
The school began under the leadership of Elsa Douglas with just a handful of students.
When she passed on in 1965, the school population had grown to about 30 students. The school was then taken over by Hilma Douglas. It was during this phase that the school grew significantly in numbers, and by the time of her demise in 2006, the population had exceeded the 150 mark. One of Douglas’ daughters, Helen Douglas, a teacher with almost 40 years’ experience and a former viceprincipal of Kingston College, assumed the principalship and continues to serve in that capacity today.
Richmond Park Preparatory has a current enrolment of over 100 students with 10 full-time and two part-time teachers.
There is a Pre-Kinder Department, catering to children from two years old. Here, the children are socialised and taught the basic skills to prepare them for the formal learning programme in kindergarten.
The Kindergarten Department offers children from three to five years old a more structured programme, where much of the learning takes place through play and experimentation.
The Primary Department takes children from ages six years (grade one) through to grade six, where they are prepared to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test in preparation for entry to high school.
THE CURRICULUM
The curriculum followed is that prescribed by the Early Childhood Commission (for the kindergarten classes) and the Ministry of Education for grades one to six, with a few enhancement programmes added, including information technology; introduction to a foreign language – French or Spanish; critical thinking – taught through the game of chess; and literature – to develop an appreciation and love for reading.
Science is taught in a practical way in an equipped science laboratory through the demonstration and execution of practical experiments, thereby enabling the students to fully understand the concepts taught.
Assessments are done on a regular basis throughout the year, and formal examinations are conducted at the end of each term, thereby enabling parents and teachers to measure the students’ progress and offer necessary interventions for improvement.
A report is prepared for each child twice per year (December and June), but other progress reports are sent periodically, and regular meetings are held with parents to discuss the students’ general progress.
The school’s emphasis is on academic achievement and it has an enviable record as evidenced by the results attained in the national Grade A Literacy exams (100 per cent mastery in 2013) as well as the Grade 6 GSAT (100 per cent placement in traditional high schools in 2013). Based on these results, Richmond Park Preparatory was ranked among the top five prep schools in Jamaica in a survey undertaken and published in February 2014.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
Although Richmond Park Preparatory stresses the importance of a high academic standards, there are also opportunities for further development through extra-curricular activities, including:
Builders’ Club – (Junior arm of the Kiwanis International). Our club is supervised by the Kingston Chapter and the students perform creditably each year in the oratorical competition held among participating schools. Spelling Club – Students are encouraged to learn the spelling as well as the meaning and origin of words in a fun setting. Science/Environmental Club – Students learn to appreciate and care for the environment, as well as explore the world of science through their own experimentation and analysis.