financially-strapped students.

Chairman of the school's Board of Governors Walwyn Hughes revealed this after receiving $50,000 this week from the US philanthropic organisation the C.V.

Starr Foundation.

The money was presented by American International Company Limited (Bermuda) chairman Ernest E. Stempel as part of a $100,000 pledge.

Warwick headmaster Bernard Beacroft said interest from the $2 million will allow Warwick Academy to provide bursaries ranging from $500 to $3,000 to some 70 secondary students in financial need.

The school, which opened a primary school in 1993, reverted to privatisation at the secondary level after rejecting Government's public school reform plans.

But school officials promised to provide financial help to secondary students, particularly those caught in the transition.

And Mr. Beacroft said he hoped the school would be able to increase the number of bursaries over the years.

"The capital campaign is certainly looking healthy,'' he said. "Yesterday's (Thursday's) donation will now bring the cash and pledges very close to the $2 million target.

"The capital campaign was set up for bursaries to help able children in Bermuda who could not otherwise come to Warwick Academy because they do not have the financial means.'' While students will have to re-apply for the bursaries each year, the school will continue to offer $4,000 scholarships to three students each year.

Mr. Beacroft said the scholarships would last throughout the student's secondary years, providing he or she maintained at least a 75 percent average.

And despite tuition fees of $6,000 a year, Mr. Beacroft said the school's primary section was completely full and the secondary level had about 25 vacant spaces.

"There are still spaces in the secondary school,'' he said, noting that some 350 of the 375 spaces had been taken.

"But the demand for spaces in the secondary school has never been as high as in the primary. All 275 spaces in the primary are taken.'' As a result of a demand for placements in the school's primary section the school's board earlier this year decided to expand the primary level from one-form to two-form entry. Each of the two-form entry primary classes can accommodate up to 25 students.

Warwick also plans to expand its building facilities by September, 1998.