The History of Denbigh High School

      The History of Denbigh High School

Seven years after one of the greatest events that occurred in Jamaica’s history - Independence - Denbigh High School was established in 1969, having as its motto: 'Learning for Living'.  Then known as Denbigh Junior Secondary School, the school started out with a student population of eight hundred and ten students drawn from three feeder schools - York Town Primary, Four Paths Primary and Denbigh Primary.  The administrative, academic and ancillary staff came to a total of twenty-seven persons and this number included founding principal Arthur Carson Bryant.

Even from that early stage the school revealed its limitless potential by performing well in the Grade Nine Achievement Test and earned for itself the reputation of being one of the better Junior Secondary Schools.  In September 1974 the school began operating a shift system and gained a name change to Denbigh Secondary, as grades ten and eleven were added.  Yet another change of name and status took place in 1995 when it was reclassified as Denbigh Comprehensive High School and received its first set of Common Entrance awardees.

In a bid to make tertiary education more accessible to the community, the school expanded its role in 1996 to become a Distance Education Centre for the University of the West Indies.  Today persons are able to access degrees in Management Studies and Teacher Education, as well as certificates and diplomas in Public Administration and Teacher Education.  This master move has put Denbigh High School among the ranks of  the few schools where a student can enter at Grade seven and leave with a Masters Degree.

The year 2000 heralded another landmark change in the life of the school when it was reclassified as Denbigh High School. Currently Denbigh High School has students ranging from grades 7-11.The school caters to the educational needs of ages twelve (12) through to about eighteen (18) years across grades 7-9 having six (6) streams. Students are able to do vocational subjects such has Electrical Works, Art and Craft, Food and Nutrition, Agriculture, Cosmetology Clothing and Textiles and Cabinet Making. The curriculum carries the full complement of academic subjects, including all the sciences and business subjects.  The school now boasts two well equipped computer labs and Information Technology is offered to every class.  Academically the school is on a path of steady upward and sustained growth, as the school now sits in the top ten non-traditional schools based on CXC results for 2003 in English and Mathematics!

Extra curricular activities span a wide range of clubs and sports which assist in the all-round development of students , as well as advancing the good name of the school.  Representatiatives of the school have won medals for 4-H, Spanish Competitions, JCDC Festival of Arts Competition and the school proudly boasts the best Quadrille Group in Clarendon. The school's netball team now holds the envied title of All Island Champions 2002 in the ISSA Netball Competition in both Junior and Senior Leagues.

In order for the school to maximise space, it operates on an extended day schedule, whereby Grades 7-9 begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. and Grades 10 and 11 begin at 9:00a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.  The school has grown academically and physically through the vision of current principal Mrs. Joan Wint and several new buildings, including a much needed Tuck Shop have been added in recent years.  Today the school population stands approximately one thousand, four hundred and forty seven (1474).

We do not fear the future for we know that the one who has led us in the past will continue the good work that He has began in us. That’s the reason today we pause to give thanks to God. 

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