As several private schools are expanding to keep up with demand for spaces, Bermuda High School for Girls is trying to limit enrolment.

After reading about increased enrolment at four of the Island's six private schools BHS Principal Eleanor Kingsbury yesterday told The Royal Gazette they too have experienced a growth in student numbers.

"We have increasing enrolment, although increasing the number of students is not the board's goal,'' Mrs. Kingsbury said.

"We went from 624 last year to 630. But they don't want to go above 650. In fact, we're straining our sports facilities to the limit.'' "The board's thought is if your school is too big, you lose the intimacy,'' she explained. "We have looked very hard at the class size.'' There are classes with no more than 20 students in BHS' Primary Department and there are no more than 15 students in the high school classes.

"My goal would be to have most classes with 15 to 16 students,'' Mrs.

Kingsbury said. "Of course some classes will have less students. For example, we're the only school left teaching Latin. We are the only one that will offer a GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in a subject even if it is not cost efficient. This is our commitment to individual attention.'' Saltus has reported an enrolment of 1,037, marking an increase of 62 more students than the last school year.

Spokesman Dan Blagg said the increased enrolment reflected the need for additional classroom space which has been provided at the Cavendish and the Junior School.

Meanwhile Warwick Academy, which is also undergoing expansion, reported an increase of 50 more students.

And while there are no plans to expand at Mount Saint Agnes Academy, head teacher Sister Judith Rollo said the Catholic school had taken in 20 more students -- increasing enrolment to 545.

Growing in number was not the focus for BHS, she stressed.

"It's raising the standards and tailoring programmes to meet students needs because we have students with a wider spread of abilities,'' Mrs. Kingsbury said. "We have to meet all children's needs and that's why this board is willing to pay whatever to do this.''