The two public senior schools have undergone a major review in a bid to make them more effective and efficient.

Three inspectors from the United States spent time on the Island earlier this summer talking to principals, teachers and students at CedarBridge Academy and Berkeley Institute.

They have handed an interim report to the Ministry of Education on where the strengths and weaknesses were, but a more detailed brief is expected soon.

Education and Development Minister Paula Cox said the review came after the revamp of the middle and senior schools, which last year saw the final phase completed with the creation of the senior four year.

She said: "It was reassuring when we looked at it because much of what they would have recommended, as a result of the new BEST initiative, is being fostered and actualised.

"The visitors mentioned the parental issue and the need for greater parental involvement. In the US they have parental mentors, and although they (visitors) said they had challenges with that initiative, we would like to explore it more and get more information on it.

"But the report was good and it could not have come at a better time."

Ms Cox said everyone, including the two schools, were pleased with the report, which she said she hoped to release to the public eventually.

"It really signals the road map," added the Minister.

"It was reassuring to the principals to know that they are not far off, but I think we all felt that an outsider looking in was helpful. There were certainly some interesting things in there."

Ms Cox said the three education inspectors handed the first report over to the Ministry within a week of their visit, but were following up with a more comprehensive document, and she said she would not be drawn further on the content until then.

She added: "The three of them were very personable and it was a delight to have them around seeing what the schools were doing. It's certainly been reassuring."

The Ministry of Education launched the new BEST initiative last year after consultation between Government, teachers, students and the Bermuda Union of Teachers.

The objective of BEST is to put new standards and benchmarks in place and have them met within the next four years, along with improvements to the non-academic curriculum, greater marketing of the public system and a unifying of all public schools.