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Warwick Academy celebrates 350 years of excellence

Warwick Academy school Principle Maggie McCorkell. ( Photo by Glenn Tucker )

Today is a very big day for Warwick Academy one of two of the oldest schools in the western hemisphere.For the school’s first female principal Maggie McCorkell, now three years into her historic appointment, it is an even more gratifying occasion.At 8.30 this morning students will attend the 350th anniversary assembly, a precursor to the special reception this evening to mark the occasion, and there is sure to be standing room only.When contacted by The Royal Gazette yesterday Mrs McCorkell said: “It is personally rewarding, but more so it is a testimony to the efforts and hard work of all the headmasters, governors and faculty that have gone before.“Without the work of these many people and the wonderful students of Warwick Academy for the last 350 years we would not be the successful school we are today.“I am happy that all the men have given me a great foundation to carry forward as the first female principal of the school. They are an amazing group of people who are always looking for ways to enhance the learning experiences of our students.”Mrs McCorkell said there was an air of anticipation among the school’s pupils, faculty and staff for the celebrations.“There is an excited buzz which I am sure will continue all year as we have many activities and events planned,” she explained. “In the morning we have our opening ceremony for the student body and then at 5.30pm we have an extended ceremony for alumni, parents and invited guests followed by a wine and cheese reception in the Old Quadrangle.”The school’s oldest alumnus, 92-year-old Jack Osborne has returned to the Island for the celebrations.On meeting Mrs McCorkell, he told her that the principal’s office is where his mother used to live when she taught at the school and that the offices next door had been bedrooms.She added: “We are thrilled that he is able to be with us, and he along with other alumni we will honour tomorrow just increases how special the day, and year, is for us all.“We had, to date, over 400 confirmed acceptances for our evening ceremony, it will be standing room only, and this I think demonstrates the affection that the school is held in by so many of our former students and staff.Mrs McCorkell added: “Without the hard work of these many all the Headmasters, Governors and faculty and the wonderful students of Warwick Academy for the last 350 years we would not be the successful school we are today.”In the lead up to today’s event, Mrs McCorkell answered a series of questions by The Royal Gazette in light of today’s economic climate.The biggest factor in private school education she admits has everything to do with cash, the ability to pay particularly during hard times.“We are one of the lowest in terms of school fees and we have made a very determined effort to keep our fees as low as possible in the current economic times,” Mrs McCorkell said. “This does, of course come with a cost especially to much needed renovations to the physical plant but at present this is outweighed by the importance we place on the make-up of our school population and its diversity.“Our numbers are actually up from last year but we have seen an increase but we have seen an increase in the number of bursary applications and more and more parents now prefer to pay on a monthly payment plan rather than termly.”Mrs MCorkell continued: “We have a forward thinking Finance Team who work with our parents to effect solutions wherever possible. History tells us that very often in times of difficulty it is the innocent that suffer.“We do not want this to happen to our students and will do all that we can not only to assist parents to keep their children at Warwick Academy but also to ensure they get a high-quality education in a setting where academic excellence is lauded.One of the innovations the school has adopted is the FROG Virtual Learning environment for staff, parent and students to use.“We are the first school in Bermuda to have this fully functioning and I know at present of two other schools that are following our lead,” Mrs McCorkell explained. “We knew that the economic downturn would affect how we do business and 18 months ago commenced a staff led initiative, the Student Emergency Fund to raise money for families in need.“This is in addition to our Bursary and Scholarship Fund and is designed to offer short term support to families where perhaps one parent has lost a job for example.“The staff have been very inventive with money making schemes and when some of our corporate and individual sponsors heard about what we are doing they were also generous in assisting with this fund.”When asked about her historic appointment as principal, Mrs McCorkell replied: “Not only have women come a long way since 1662 with the first headteacher but we have come a long way in this century.“Ten years ago I was told Warwick Academy would never appoint a female head, yet just over three years ago I was appointed.She continued: “I think moving forward it will be less of a male/female issue as opposed to doing the best job possible so that all other aspects of whatever business one is in have the most effective person appointed for each position.“I am certainly very proud and honoured to be the first female principal of this historic school but I would prefer to be remembered as one of the best principals, not the first female principal.”

Warwick Academy ( Photo by Glenn Tucker )
Taken in 1931
taken in 1925