Berkeley students will now have to maintain a grade-point average (GPA) of 2.25 in order to graduate.

The school's Board of Governors announced the change in a press statement yesterday.

Board Chairman Craig Bridgewater said: "Commencing in June 2013, all students who will be graduating from the Berkeley Institute will be required to earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 in the Bermuda School Certificate Programme in order to qualify for the Berkeley Institute Graduation Certificate.

"This is the minimum standard, up .25 percentage points from the existing GPA of 2.0 required today. In these circumstances, it is essential that students in S1 work with great purpose to ensure that they can earn the Berkeley Institute certificate, which has been associated with our school's long history, in order that they graduate in 2013."

The school will also hold a meeting Monday evening to discuss the recently released five-year strategic plan from the Ministry of Education.

The plan puts into play seven recommendations from the Hopkins Report of 2007.

A statement said: "The Board of Governors of the Berkeley Institute announced today that it had invited parents, teachers, students and all ancillary organisations associated with the School to attend a special Berkeley Family meeting on Monday, April 26, at 5.30 p.m. in the school Cafetorium, to gather feedback on the Blueprint.

"The Minister of Education and the Board of Education released its Blueprint for Reform in Education over the Easter weekend. The consultation phase extends through May 15, after which the plan, or a version thereof amended in accordance with public comment, will be finalised."

Mr. Bridgewater said: "This discussion is critically important to the Berkeley Family because the blueprint complements our internal efforts to raise academic standards.

"Parent of all S1 Students were advised this week that the Board of Governors has recently approved a new policy which will govern the awarding of the Berkeley Institute Graduation Certificate."