Saint Vincent Grammar School

Saint Vincent Grammar School (abbreviated SVGS) is a secondary school located in Richmond Hill, Kingstown, on the island of Saint Vincent. Established on 21 September 1908 it is the oldest institution of secondary education in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and is a single-[...] school. Entrance to the school is by an academic selection test called the Common Entrance Examination, acceptance granted only those male students who ranked, usually, in the top 150 places of his gender in the Common Entrance Examination. As a result, SVGS is one of the most academically successful and consistently high achieving secondary schools in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, consistently scoring in the top 3 schools for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

There are approximately 800 pupils on the school roll.

History

An attempt to have an institution for secondary education was made when the Saint Vincent Grammar School was founded by an Ordinance in 1878. Conditions, however, were not satisfactory at the school and in 1885 moves were afoot to abolish it. The inhabitants on the island-here the influential minority-refused to support these moves and stated that they "would be just as clamorous for the restoration of such an institution as the people of Grenada now are for the establishment of one."

In 1887 another attempt at establishing another school was made when The Inspector of Schools, Mr F.H. Hawkins started the Kingstown Grammar School but the effort died when he was transferred a few years later to the Leeward Islands. A fourth Grammar School, a co-educational one, was started by Mr. Miles Phillips in 1896 and by 1899 had 42 pupils on its roll. As the thrust for more knowledge to promote the best interests of the emerging agro-based economy on the island of Saint Vincent, a new Agricultural School was established in 1900. Later that school would be further developed to become the Saint Vincent Grammar School. It was officially established on 21 September 1908 with Mr F.W. Reeves as the first headmaster and 12 boys in attendance. This was the final attempt made at establishing a Grammar School on the island.

Motto

The Saint Vincent Grammar School's motto Per Aspera ad Astra (Latin for Through Rough ways to the Stars) appears on the school's crest

Subjects Offered

A total of 24 subjects are taken at the school including Physical Education and Visual Arts which are compulsory for all students from Forms 1 to 3 (although exceptions May Be made for Physical Education) but can be done at CSEC level as well if the student chooses to do so. Mathematics and English Language are compulsory for all students in all forms (1-5) and Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) is in Forms 1 and 2. The following subjects are offered at CSEC Level (Forms 4 and 5):

English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, French, Spanish, Geography, Social Studies, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Economics, Food and Nutrition, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Integrated Science, Information Technology, Caribbean History, Building Technology (Woodwork), Technical Drawing, Visual Arts, Physical Education and Music

Houses

There are four houses into which students are placed upon entry to the Saint Vincent Grammar School. Each house has a House Master/Mistress, a House Captain and Vice Captain. Inter-House Competitions are held in all sports offered at the school. There are also inter-house competitions in Public Speaking and Debating. The following sports are offered at the school:

• Cricket
• Football
• Athletics
• Table Tennis
• Basketball

Crick

Crick House is named after the School's 6th Headmaster, U.G Crick.

Lopey

Lopey house got its name from the School's 4th Headmaster whose service spanned 1939-1955, W.M Lopey.

Millar

Named after the School's 5th Headmaster, G.C MIllar.

Reeves

Reeves House was the first house to be named after a Headmaster. F.W Reeves was the School's first and longest serving Headmaster (1908–1931).

List of Headmasters

School Song

1 We hail our Alma Mater
The Guardian of our youth
The Moulder of our character
Guide in our search for truth
A healthy mind and body
She helps us to attain
Per Aspera ad Astra
Our Motto and our Aim
Per Aspera ad Astra
Our Motto and our Aim

2 We sing of heights achieved
At study and at play
Of diligence maintained
Though rough or smooth the way
With those who come before us
And those who follow on
We join in one great chorus
To sing this glorius song
Per Aspera ad Astra
Let strains ring loud and long.

Notable Alumni

• Dr. Earl Kirby- Prominent Archaeologist and Veterinarian
• Alfie Roberts- First past student to be selected to the West Indies Cricket team
• Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves- Current Prime Minister
• Rt. Hon. Sir James.F. Mitchell- Former Prime Minister
• Hon. Arnhim Eustace- Former Prime Minister
• Rt. Hon. Milton Cato- First Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sir J. Lambert Eustace- First Native Governor- General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Dr. Cecil Cyrus- First Native FRCS
• Ellswort "Shake" Keane- Outstanding Musician
• Frankie McIntosh- International Musician
• Luke Browne - Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholar 2008
• Kamal Wood - CSEC Top Awardee 2004 and Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholar 2010