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Ferncourt High School
Location
Ferncourt High School
Claremont, St Ann Jamaica
Coordinates	18°19′52″N 77°10′11″W / 18.3312°N 77.1697°W / 18.3312; -77.1697Coordinates: 18°19′52″N 77°10′11″W / 18.3312°N 77.1697°W / 18.3312; -77.1697
Information
Motto	Labor Vincit (Hard Work Conquers)
Founded	1938
Founder	Mrs. Iris Simpson
Age	11 to 16
Enrollment	1200

Ferncourt High School located in Claremont, St Ann, Jamaica is co-educational and has a student body of approximately 1200.

History

Ferncourt High school was officially opened in 1938. Housed in a building previously belonging to Dr. Curphey, known as 'Cedars,' Ferncourt welcomed its first set of girls who all boarded on the school's compound.

An active member of the Anglican Church and the Scout Movement, it was no surprise that Mrs. Simpson devised a curriculum that not only catered to the girls' intellectual development but one that would also prepared them to be socially and morally, upstanding citizens. To deliver this curriculum which included classical subjects such as French, Latin and Music along with the fundamental social graces, the staff was recruited from all across Jamaica as well as overseas .

As the institution was privately owned, the acceptance of students was based primarily on the character and resources of the parents as well as the conduct and ability of the students.

The school later became a co-educational institution and the population maintained a steady growth and by 1959 the population had reached two hundred and sixty six. In 1955, the government formally recognized the school which became a public entity in 1960. As the school continued to expand and the society began to change there were curriculum changes. Less emphasis was now placed on the classical subjects such as French and Latin and more emphasis on the technical subjects. Presently Femcourt incorporates traditional high school education with training in Industrial Arts and Practical Commercial Skills. Ferncourt High School is also one of the few traditional high schools in Jamaica that boasts a Technical Department and it is the only government owned traditional high school in Region Three.

Mrs. Simpson held the position of Principal from its opening until 1961. When she retired Mr. Weller took over the leadership of the school for a short while. He was followed by Mr. James Laing, Mr. Oswald Fisher, Mr. Byron Brown, Mr. O.R. Bell, Miss. V.J. Clarke, Rev'd St. Aubyn Hay, Mrs. Sharon Kelly- Stair, Mrs. Ethyl Mullings, Rev'd Claudette Johnson, Mrs. Veronica Archer and currently Rev'd Lenworth Sterling who is one of the many fortunate who can say that Ferncourt High School is his Alma mater- their pride and joy.

Ferncourt High currently has a second campus located at Brittonville. The school has extended its facilities with staff residences, an auditorium and an extra laboratory to accommodate a population of 1556 students and a faculty of over sixty on both campuses.

The school is in now in its 71st year. The Board of Governors, the principal, staff and students of Ferncourt High School say thank you to all the individuals and organizations that have helped the school to become what it is today. As we move forward we welcome any contribution that will propel the school to become one of Jamaica's best and carry on the legacy of Mrs. Iris Blanche Simpson.

Curriculum

Students enter at 1st form (7th grade) and continue to 5th form (11th grade) when they sit various subjects in the CXC and CCSLC exams.Most recently a 6th form (12 and 13th grade) programme has been added.

Extracurricular activities

Clubs and Societies:
4-H Club –
Red Cross Society
Jamaica Combined Cadet Force
Tourism Action Plan
Environment Club
Girls Guide
Social Graces
United Nations
Wellness Club
ISCF
Photography/Astronomy Club
Music Club
Spanish Club
Dance Group
Mathematics club
Sporting Activities:
Track & Field
Netball

For sports the school population is divided into five houses:

• Curphy


• Simpson


• Jacob


• Brown


• Smith

Emblems

Motto

The school's motto is "Labor Vincit" which, when translated to English, means "Hard work conquers".

Notable alumni

• Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, former Jamaica Defence Force Chief of Staff, Commissioner of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (the first person to lead both the military and police force in the history of Jamaica).


• 
  Seymour Mullings, former Deputy Prime Minister in the PNP administration of the 70s and 80s.


• 
  Aloun Assamba, former Minister of Tourism and MP for Southeast St Ann.


• 
  Novlene Williams-Mills, Jamaican Track and field representative, multiple time Olympics, World and Commonwealth Games medalist.


• 
  Dwayne Roberts, Honor Roll student at USW, Wales

Headmasters

See also

• Education in Jamaica


• List of Schools in Jamaica

References

External links

• 
  Aerial view.


• Photos: