Our History

In the minute book of the committee of management of the Christ Church Foundation School for 1832, there was a copy of a memorandum dated 10th July 1809. It was found under the foundation stone of the original school buildings from that time. It stated that the school building was erected with the aid of subscriptions for the purpose of a school for the poor white children of the parish. The school was to be supported by the rent of land and a donation from Francis Williams Esquire. This endowment was actually coming not from Francis Williams but from his dead brother, Captain John Williams who in his will had bequeathed 100 acres of land and 300 pounds to be used for the establishment of the school. Francis inherited from John and instead of giving the money and land to the school, he gave the land only. In the will of Francis Williams he had expressly stated that the school was intended for the education of boys primarily. Any funding would be given to the boys school, with the girls receiving what ever was left over. Boys would be educated in the front building and the girls, housed in a building at the rear between the headmaster's quarters and the church wall. The ratio of boys to girls attending the school was set at 2:1.

Reverend Dr. Thomas Harrison Orderson, who was rector of Christ Church Parish Church  from 1803 assisted greatly in getting the school started and called some of his Lodge School teachers and asked them to teach at Foundation. Many of our founding partners were from the Lodge school, including some of our headmasters.

Thus the foundation stone for The Parochial School as it was called, was laid on July 10th 1809, by The Honorable John Spooner, President of His Majesty's Council in the Island and Commander-in-chief. The land which John had left for the school was rented as directed by the will. Funds received from its rental were given to the school, for its continued existence. It was also used to pay for scholarships, which allowed poor people to attend Foundation. During 1825 however, the school suffered a temporary closure, due to lack of funds. In a diary of Sir Henry Fitzherbert in 1825, he mentioned that the school was being cheated out of large sums of money by unknown person(s). The school was reopened and grew as it had before until it was destroyed by a hurricane on the 11th of August 1831.  The School as well as the Church were therefore relocated to the Fort in Oistins, which most of us would know as the Christ Church District Hospital.

At this time Bishop Coleridge recommended building a separate school for the girls when the boy's school was rebuilt. Provision was therefore made for 12 girls to be admitted to the school.

The first stone for the foundation for the new building was laid on June 1rst 1832, by his excellency, Sir James Lyon, Governor and Commander-in-chief of the island. This new building was built using funds given to the then Government for the construction of schools on the island. The school was opened on September 19th 1832 with 30 boarders (persons living on school premises), 18 boys and 12 girls, along with 15 day time only students, 8 boys and 7 girls. Lunch consisted of six white biscuits and a glass of syrup. Dinner, dependant on the day of the week consisted of soup, fresh fish, meat, and rice. The daily expense of running the school was provided through the close ties it had with the nearby church. Money was collected from rents, sacramental money, sermons and contributions from the vestry.

On July 10th 1894 the Legislature passed an Act called "The Christ Church Foundation Act". This Act vested certain identified land around the island and buildings to the school. A Committee was appointed to see after it. The Act also removed the "white" color requirement for entrance into the school. As the school continued to grow more room was required, and in 1898 the committee bought a neighboring house for the girls school while the boys remained in the current location. The school thus became two separate entities. The Christ Church Boys Foundation School and the Christ Church Girls Foundation School. 

1906 saw a great and momentous change in the school structure. Prior to this date the school was looked on as a primary or middle school. Teaching only Reading, Writing and Arithmetic along with some Religious Knowledge  to children between 7 and 14 years old. After a lot of hard work by a man named Samuel Kirton, and lots of opposition from the wealthy planters, the school was upgraded to the status of a second grade (Secondary) school. In that capacity, it now taught Languages, Algebra, Geometry, History and Geography. The age of the students was extended from 14 to 16, and persons wishing to go to Foundation would now have to pass an entrance examination. We had evolved.

In 1928 the school was officially recognized. This allowed the school to receive annual grants from the Government. Miss Bradshaw was the head mistress of the girls school at the time. The school once again out grew its confines and permission was granted by Canon Farrar, Rector of the parish for the school to use the Memorial School building. The Memorial school at that time housed a mixed primary school. It out grew it self once more and Miss Bradshaw added another large room to the plant. The cost for this new room was defrayed by Mr. T A Herbert. 

During 1945 Mr. Howard Hayden Director of Education at the time tried to repeal the 1906 act and proposed that the two schools be joined into one. This proposal was hotly opposed by most of the teaching staff, as well as those who had known about the poor treatment of the school by the leaders of the country. The shabby treatment of the girls school was an especially sore point. However constant pressure by Government caused them to change their minds.

Around this time the land which was left to the school by Francis Williams was sold by Government and renamed Parish Land. Yes, boys and girls Parish Land used to belong to us. A Foundation student wins Barbados Scholarship in 1954. Samuel Kirton dies and leaves money to pay for persons who have won scholarships to go to Foundation. The first head boy, Frank Broome is appointed. 

In 1957 a new building was proposed to be constructed by Miss Gwilliam of the Colonial Office. The cost of $442,100 dollars was collected from the Colonial Office and Welfare departments. By the middle of the year the foundation stone was laid, but progress was delayed by the passage of Hurricane Janet. The school was opened on January 14th 1957. On February 16th 1960 the school was visited by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who unveiled a plaque commemorating the newly built school. 

The new building constructed in 1957 which most of us would have used was built on a new foundation. The previous generations of Foundation Boys' School, was constructed on the land where  Christ Church High School used to be. That school has since closed. The land  is currently being occupied by a community centre which was constructed by the parish church. The previous generations of the Girls' School was situated in a small building, on the pasture by the current school's west gate.

Although occupying the same land and, for the first time the same building, the school still existed as the Christ Church Foundation Girls' School and the Christ Church Foundation Boys' School. Girls were not allowed on the Boy's side and Boy's were not allowed on the Girl's side. The two schools had separate Heads, Deputy Heads and teaching staff. They also had different eating areas and a separate canteen. There were some classes the girls took, (mainly science) which were done over on the boys side, but these were very few.  Any corresponding between family members had to be done either before or after school.

However, in September of 1978 the amalgamation process was started. New female students who had passed to Foundation were admitted into the boys side and shared classrooms with boys who had similarly passed for Foundation that year. The remainder of the school remained single sex. The following year this batch of mixed first formers were promoted into second form and a new set of mixed students entered first form. During this time no one was admitted to the girl's school and that school composed only students who had gained entry prior to 1978. Thus at the end of the school year in July of 82, the entire school was mixed and the Foundation Boys' and Girls' Schools no longer existed. The resulting School was called Christ Church Foundation School. The name of the school actually dates back to the time that the Williams brothers left the money in their wills for the establishing of the school.

Under the English system, from which we came, when money is left by a person for the construction or setting up of an institution or entity, that entity is called a Foundation. There are therefore several "Foundations" in the world. Most being started by someone leaving money for their establishment. In the case of Foundation School it was John and Francis Williams. Other schools, like Alleyne and Combermere were also Foundation Schools at one time under the English system, until they were given the names of their founders. Foundation School however, was never renamed and hence retained the name Foundation School. It's location was in Christ Church and there you have it. 

After the merger began the Acting Headmistress of the Girls' school Miss. Beryl Sealy resigned and Mrs. Ruby St. John took over the running of the school until it was finally closed in 1982. The Headmaster of the Boys' school and his Deputy were transferred to the corresponding posts at the amalgamated Foundation School. Sometime after the new building was constructed, a small expansion was made to the girls side. (See photo at left.) Under close scrutiny you will notice that the blocks between the two blocks are not joined, but rather are complete in themselves. It looks like the extended block was constructed, but not linked as is customary into the existing section. Have you ever wondered why all of the windows are different in that section? This was confirmed by a visiting student from the girls' side.

 Here is a list of Former Headmasters of the Boys school.

Here is a list of Former Headmistresses of the Girls school.

Boys and girls school song

Some popular old scholars

A blast from the past