‘This goes against the very school motto’

A mother is accusing Immaculate Conception High School of being unreasonable after her daughter was barred from continuing in its sixth-form programme because she obtained a grade four in one of four Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) subjects.

But the school’s principal, Stacy Reynolds, is maintaining that the student did not meet the standard for further matriculation.

The 18-year-old aspiring industrial engineer attained Grade Is in computer science and digital media, a Grade II in communication studies, and a Grade IV in food and nutrition.

Although a Grade IV is considered a pass at the CAPE level, the school’s policy only allows students who have achieved grades I-III in unit one of their CAPE subjects to advance to grade 13.

Students are at first required to attain six grade ones in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), including mathematics and English A (language) to matriculate into the sixth-form programme.

The parent, Takisha Sten-Barnes, told The Gleaner that her daughter achieved eight CSEC subjects – six Grade Is and two Grade IIs. She said she received Grade Is in mathematics and English language.

Sten-Barnes said her daughter was a very dedicated student, who prioritised involvement in the school’s extracurricular activities. She was class monitor, sub-prefect, prefect, represented the school in sports, and even founded a club at the school.

On account of this, she said the St Andrew-based school’s decision to deny her advancement because of one subject is “unacceptable and extremely distasteful”.

“I have watched my child endure sleepless nights to ensure she has a balanced school life so that she is competitive and develop key life skills to transition into adulthood,” the mother said. “She was so confident that regardless of the grade, they would see her as somebody that they wanted to keep in their school.”

Sten-Barnes stated that her daughter’s mental health has been significantly affected by the disappointment of the rejection.

“If we are truthful, our children spend the majority of their time in schools, that is one of the primary places of socialisation and the bedrock of learning and development; yet the place of ‘unintended’ trauma because of lack of empathy,” the mother said. “She (daughter) still has moments of crying, and feeling despondent.”

UNWAVERING

Sten-Barnes said they have tried different approaches to persuade the school to reverse its decision, but the administration has been unwavering. Their only compromise, she said, was to offer to write a letter of recommendation to other schools to accept her daughter.

But according to Principal Reynolds, the school’s policy for matriculation into and continuation in their sixth-form programme is routinely communicated to parents and students.

“It’s repeated year after year – what you need to get into sixth form and what you need to maintain staying in sixth form. It is repeated to everybody; it was given to them in writing,” she told The Gleaner.

“One of the things I think we need to remember is that there are standards. Standards are set and there are expectations,” she emphasised.

Reynolds acknowledged that the student was very involved in the school, but stated that all students are required to be involved in at least one extracurricular activity to advance in the programme.

Declaring that the school is not being “cruel to anyone”, Reynolds, who has headed the institution for four years, said she offered to write a recommendation for the student to get placement elsewhere.

She noted that Immaculate Conception High School only offers the traditional sixth-form curriculum under the Ministry of Education Sixth Form Pathways Programme (SFPP).

The SFPP allows students who complete grade 11 to pursue an additional two-year course of study with alternative opportunities alongside the traditional curriculum.

She asserted that Immaculate Conception High’s sixth-form matriculation policy does not contradict the SFPP.

“The policy for the ministry doesn’t say because I go to St Andrew High School, I must matriculate into sixth form in St Andrew High School, so the ministry has put things in place like the teacher’s colleges, the community colleges; they do take them in because the schools cannot fit everybody,” she said.

On average, approximately 140 students matriculate into Immaculate’s sixth-form programme yearly, the headmistress said.

Meanwhile, Sten-Barnes said her daughter has opted to remain out of the school system and is currently focused on preparing for the Scholastic Aptitude Test for enrolment in an overseas university.

But she is still adamant that the school’s approach should be overhauled.

“There needs to be a full investigation into the school’s policy and an audit of their acceptance. Failing your students is unacceptable and not giving second chances goes against the very school motto,” Sten-Barnes said.

The school’s motto is Ad Astra Per Aspera (Through Difficulties to the Stars).

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com