High School Students Taking College Courses

September 15, 2014

Ten S3 [Senior Year 3] students from Bermuda’s two public senior schools – The Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy – have successfully enrolled into full-time college-level courses at Bermuda College.

“They will be joined by 41 other S4 students from the public high schools for English, mathematics and a range of other courses, such as finite maths, accounting, psychology and biology for the 2014/15 academic year,” a College spokesperson explained.

“Dual Enrolment allows students to pursue an advanced curriculum relevant to their individual post-secondary interest. College credit earned prior to high school graduation reduces the average time-to-degree and increases the likelihood of graduation for the students who participate.

“A ‘dual enrolment course’ at Bermuda College is a post-secondary level course, which, upon successful completion, qualifies a student for academic credit in the public senior school and post-secondary institution.

“The 10 S3 students are able to attend the College on a full-time basis, i.e. taking a full course load of 12 credits. 20 students have enrolled into Freshmen-level English; 15 students have enrolled into College Algebra; and 6 other students were able to take courses in accounting, finite mathematics, biology and psychology.”

College Recruitment Officer, Mr. Thaao Dill stated, “We’re incredibly excited about the success of our Dual Enrolment students, and grateful for the opportunity to support them into the next stage of their academic progress.

“These students – around one sixth of the entire year level – are earning globally transferrable university level credits without having to pay a dime in tuition before they graduate high school.

“This is a big deal that really matters, as it demonstrates what students are capable of when given the opportunity and what our public school system is capable of producing when students, teachers and parents do their part.

Last January, the College announced the success of 40 S4 students who were able to take Freshman English or College Algebra classes for the Spring 2014 semester. At the time, the figure represented the highest number in the history of the College’s placement testing.

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Comments (39)

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  1. PBanks says:

    This is intriguing and encouraging. Best to the students taking on the additional workload.

  2. watching says:

    it is great that the public schools are producing students that are above their level in academic performance.
    my only concern, and that is for all students (public and private), is what is the rush? college is supposed to be a period of life learning, not just academic. if they are 15 and 16 and in college, then will they get the full experience? there is more to life than zooming through at an accelerated pace. Many of us that are in the working world now would have loved to have taken our time a bit. Do they even know what they want to study at that age?

    • Scooby says:

      Don’t worry watching – it’s not even the same level as private school high school – congrats to those who enrolled for recognizing the public school with it’s engrained teachers will never get them into university.

      • watching says:

        that wasn’t my point as there are kids in both public and private doing extremely well, and some not.

      • Zario says:

        I don’t know what you are talking about, as all the schools take the same external exam. That is the myth about private schools, that the work is harder.

      • Observer says:

        We love haters – they are motivators!!

      • Student says:

        Theres always someone ready to hate and comment about something that should be celebrated. I am a high school student in the public school system and i am in my third year of high school and i am also in this programme and have already taken 5 IGCSES and getting taking three next year so that makes 8. People think private school is a better option which is great for you but there is absolutely nothing wrong with Public Schools as we are both taking the same external exams and producing excellent. I am sure not every single person in private schools have passed their external exams. I believe it is great that public school students are getting an opportunity to reach their full potential in this dual enrolment programme, so why hate? stop thinking and commenting negatively on public schools please as we are producing the same excellence that private schools and we will be going to university thanks to our wonderful teachers. The evidence is in the article above.

          • Sunny says:

            @aceboy the fact that you would take time to dig out these articles suggest otherwise!. Congratulations to all the students!

            • aceboy says:

              It is called educating someone.

              The Student said this:

              “I am sure not every single person in private schools have passed their external exams.”

              He/she is wrong.

              You want to try and make it out that I am a “hater” for dredging up….FACTS? You are part of the problem then. Lowering standards and expectations hurt the students in the long run.

              • Student says:

                @aceboy I’m sorry but who’s lowering standards?
                And i am not wrong actually there have been students that have transferred due to their poor IGCSE external examination grades and due to them failing. i wouldn’t post something that isn’t true i am not immature.
                Thankyou.
                And i think its sad that you are still trying to prove something, that private schools are better? what is it exactly you are trying to prove. I think you, and everybody else should be congratulating us, should be proud that bermudas youth are doing great things to make this island better.

        • PBanks says:

          I think some people are questioning these courses as they’re comparing them to when private school students take AP/IB courses, or even the old ‘A’ Levels.

          I don’t know the answer at all, but any program that allows public school students to get an extra leg up when it comes to tertiary education, is commendable regardless.

          • Student says:

            Public schools also take AP and A levels.

            • PBanks says:

              Cheers, Student. I wasn’t even aware that any secondary school took A Levels. Those results should be publicised then by the schools/Min Ed so we can commend those who achieved the results.

    • Politricks says:

      Sorry, but the fact that the public school GCSE results have seen only 28% of participants receive a passing grade (worse than the worst school in the UK) for two years in a row leaves with me little confidence in the public school system. This is an internationally recognized curriculum while the BSSC is not.

      The even sorrier fact is that the participants took on average between 1 and 2 GCSEs while the private school counterparts sit between 7-10 exams.

      I agree with Scooby that the level of teaching has declined, but so has the level of parenting and parental involvement as well.

      • Dual Enrollment Student says:

        The facts provided by the Bermuda statistics and UK statistics differ in a major way. the 28% that you are talking about are grades below C, C represents a 60% – 75% grade. However a fail on the IGCSE is U, U stands for Unmarkabale and the UK counts passes as anything better than you which is G and better, G-A*

        • serengeti says:

          And there is the problem. If you get below a C, that is a fail. Yet we allow people to think that anything above U (‘Unclassified”) is fine.

      • Portia says:

        In fairness to the students, the public schools, as I understand it, have only been rolling out GCSEs since the past few years. 15 – 20 years ago, only private schools did the GCSEs, and they have been administering them for years (I remember Berkley had O levels, but I think those exams are not the same.) We need to give the public students time to catch up, they are coming from different backgrounds and have not had the same advantages as private students, then I think we WILL see the results improve.

        • Serz doe says:

          O-levels are the old school version of gcses. Just thought I’d give you a hand there.

      • Zario says:

        That is not the case at Berkeley.

      • foldgers says:

        as an old school student who was considered above average, i did my GCEs in my fourth grade a year ahead and passed. I also received a scholarship to go to college. After graduating, I learned that the importance that was put on these exams was overated. Many places of employment had their own exam for entry into their workplace. Also whereas some college courses required certain exams, they also allowed one to take an alternative placement exam . The point I am trying to make is that the way rewsults are printed by certain schools, may to some seem as though if their child does not get those exams or results, they may not attend college. They can. Everyone who wants to go , can. I graduated with 10 GCEs .. I am almost 50 and not once did I have to show my exam certificates as a means of getting a job. I had to show that I was the right candidqte for the job. My daughter was a late bloomer, she did not get as many GCEs and she re did her last year of high school. She is now a Corporate Executive. Please stop placing so much on trhese exams . There are late bloomers who may get disheartened by their lack of early success based on these exams. Every student is a winner. In the real world your strength will be your character and determination. In the real world you will not be given an A or B grade. You will be expected to do well for what you are being paid for. Choose a job you love. Then you will succeed. Congratulations to all in the early placement… to all students , no matter what school you attend, in the real world, there is equal opportunity for success so keep moving forward.

  3. Raymond Ray says:

    “We may not know what the future holds but we do know who hows the future”.
    To all who’ve taken part in the past and are about to in the future we want you to know, “all is well” in-spite of the outcome…

  4. Rhonda says:

    so glad to see the positives highlighted…

  5. Mazumbocann says:

    For all of you negative persons. Give credit to these students, or any young person that is trying to apply themselves and remain focused. I applaud each one of those students. Continue to work hard and ignore those that try to bring you and what you are doing down to lift themselves up.

  6. nana says:

    It’s so nice to hear the good news concerning the public schools, we don’t hear too much about all the good news but certainly run with the bad news. To all the students who have worked hard to earn this hold your head up high and keep pressing on let your light continue to shine. You have shown us the public schools does work if you want it to work. Proud of you all.

  7. All the best to all of these students in their future endeavors & may they ALL achieve their MBAs in their respective academic disciplines

  8. Student says:

    Theres always someone ready to hate and comment about something that should be celebrated. I am a high school student in the public school system and i am in my third year of high school and i am also in this programme and have already taken 5 IGCSES and getting taking three next year so that makes 8. People think private school is a better option which is great for you but there is absolutely nothing wrong with Public Schools as we are both taking the same external exams and producing excellent. I am sure not every single person in private schools have passed their external exams. I believe it is great that public school students are getting an opportunity to reach their full potential in this dual enrolment programme, so why hate? stop thinking and commenting negatively on public schools please as we are producing the same excellence that private schools and we will be going to university thanks to our wonderful teachers. The evidence is in the article above.

    • Serz doe says:

      Getting the same results as private schools huh? If that’s the case private schools wouldn’t exist if the public school system was that good. Just let that sink in for a minute. Ps I’m a student who has been to public and private school.

      • Sunny says:

        @Serz doe. Whats your point?

      • Student says:

        @ sera doe Public Schools and the public school system are great thank you clearly the evidence is in the article above, as i say again. The problem is not the system but students are not taking things seriously and pushing themselves to do well. everyone is capable of succeeding in life. And you may think otherwise but thats your opinion but you cannot judge solely on your experience. Public Schools are producing excellence. but not everyone wants to put in the hard work to achieve excellence, and the ones who do are reaping the rewards.

      • PBanks says:

        Not true. People may still choose to send kids to a particular private school for religious purposes (MSA/BI), even if the public secondary schools were ‘on par’ with their private equivalents.

        We just need to give each student the best opportunity to achieve and excel.

  9. Hey says:

    I am in my last year at the Berkeley Institute I obtained a B in Coordinated Science, B in English Lit., A* in Spanish, B in Mathematics, B in Physics and just completed my AS levels in Biology and English with a resulting grade of two B’s. Before you stereotype the students of public education, think back and make sure you have your facts right.

  10. Student says:

    Actually there are many people who in fact have transferred to public schools due them failing their IGCSE scores which means that not everybody in the private school system passed their external exams. Thank you.

    • Family Man says:

      You’re telling me that after failing their IGCSE exams in the private schools they leave to enter public schools? To improve their education maybe? And the private schools somehow fudge their pass rates?

      Son, my BS meter just went off the scale.

      • Student says:

        Yes they obviously went to a public school so they can continue their education. no other school accepted them, where else are they supposed to go? The private school they went to wouldn’t allow them to continue due to them failing their IGCSES …

        • foldgers says:

          i can concur with this statement as I had a friend who attended private school and was transferred to another school after results. This occurs more often than you think but is not talked about. Once again , best to all students.