Pilgrim’s comments came yesterday morning during his address at the service of thanksgiving and opening ceremony for the week of activities for the 265th anniversary celebration, on the grounds of Codrington College, the original site of the school.
According to the principal major construction and refurbishment at the school is set to start in the first quarter of next year and will see several new additions to the compound, to help accommodate the growing student roll, which stands now at 1 067, the largest it has ever been in the history of the school, with over 200 of those students being in the sixth forms.
“There are new subjects on the curriculum and better students are being attracted to the school. School effectiveness continues to improve and there is a wide and increasing spread of good external exam results across the fifth and sixth forms every year. Our prowess in sports is legendary, I consider myself privileged to lead the school at this juncture when we are poised to take off,” he said.
Pilgrim said that at the end of the refurbishment, which is expected to take some three to four years to complete, they will have what “amounts” to a new school. He explained that this physical redevelopment, scheduled to start around March 2011, will correct years of deterioration of the physical plant and result in them being the recipients of a new hall, with the capacity to seat at least 1 000, a new pavilion, new classroom blocks and existing blocks, he explained will either be extended and or refurbished.
“We are also developing a strategic plan for the next five years [so] when we return to Codrington five years from now, there will be a new and modern Lodge School. Other entities even including this venerable College will be able to use our upgraded facilities for conferences, sports and community activities,” he stated. (JRT)
Source: www.barbadosadvocate.com