Education in Bermuda
There are six fee-paying schools that constitute the mainstream educational offering available to Bermuda’s families. These include Warwick Academy, Bermuda High School for Girls and Saltus Grammar School. In this article, we provide a summary of the options available within mainstream schooling, as well as the benefits of tutoring and homeschooling in a Bermudian context.
Saltus Grammar School
Saltus was founded in 1888 as a boys’ grammar school, and became co-educational in 1990. The school offers a comprehensive athletics program and supports top-level athletes through its Saltus Elite Athlete Programme, which provides flexible and supportive arrangements to balance both the students' academic and athletic commitments. It is unique among schools on the island in offering a Canadian curriculum.
Location: Hamilton, Bermuda
Head: Julie Rousseau
Day or Boarding: Day
Pupils: Over 850
Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 4 -18
Curriculum: CAIS (Canadian)
Day fees: $25,275
Website: https://www.saltus.bm/explore/overview
Somersfield Academy
Somersfield Academy is a good option for Bermudian families looking for a school that accords equal weight to the development of academic and social skills. The school employs the Montessori method in its nursery and early-years programs, an educational approach that emphasises the child's holistic development rather than solely focusing on academics. What sets Somersfield apart from other schools in Bermuda is its unique offering of the International Baccalaureate program in both its Secondary and Sixth Form curricula.
Location: Devonshire, Bermuda
Head: Riki Teteina
Day or Boarding: Day
Pupils: 529
Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 4 -18
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Day fees: $25,500
Website: https://mysomersfield.com/welcome
Warwick Academy
Warwick Academy has the distinction, among Bermudian schools, of being both the oldest school, founded in 1664, and its strongest from an academic perspective. An impressive 97% of its students achieve five or more GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A*-C) in 2023. Since 2017, Warwick Academy has sent students to prestigious universities in the US and UK, including Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, Duke, and Fordham. The school’s extensive 22-acre campus offers abundant opportunities for co-curricular sports, and it provides specialised performance programs in football and swimming for high-level athletes.
Location: Warwick, Bermuda
Head: David Horan
Day or Boarding: Day
Pupils: 850
Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 4 -18
Curriculum: iGCSE, International Baccalaureate and BTEC (Sixth Form)
Day fees: $21,936
Website: https://www.warwick.bm/
Bermuda High School for Girls (BHS)
Bermuda High School for Girls was founded in 1896. Taking original inspiration for leading schools in the UK, particularly Cheltenham Ladies’ College, the school’s mission is to provide a dedicated space for girls to learn and socialise, offering a holistic education that empowers them to be more assertive, discerning, and confident than their co-educated peers. Academically, Bermuda High School for Girls sits on a par with Warwick Academy. 97% of all iGCSE grades in 2022 fell within the 9-4 (A* to C) range. The school offers co-educational opportunities in its Sixth Form.
Location: Pembroke, Bermuda
Head: Carol A. Swainson
Day or Boarding: Day
Pupils: 570
Gender: Girls
Ages: 4 -18
Curriculum: iGCSE, International Baccalaureate and A-Level (Sixth Form)
Day fees: $24,716
Website: https://www.bhs.bm/
Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning (BCCL)
Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning is the most recent arrival within the Bermudian educational community, opening its doors in 2015. The school is notable for its small class sizes and evidence-informed teaching, with the school following the widely-disseminated Orton-Gillingham Approach to support development of numeracy and literacy. They cater to numerous specific needs, such as Austism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Dyslexia. The school provides support to early and middle school students. After this, students are fed into the other fee-paying schools on the island.
Location: Hamilton, Bermuda
Head: Cindy Corday
Day or Boarding: Day
Pupils: c.30
Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 6-14
Curriculum:
Day fees: $28,000
Website: https://www.bermudacreativelearning.com/
How does homeschooling compare to mainstream schooling options?
Traditionally, homeschooling has carried a degree of stigma. Some parents used to believe that homeschooled children struggle to socialise effectively upon leaving the homeschooling environment. However, due to advancements in evidence-informed pedagogy and continuous improvements in the quality of homeschooling services, this stigma is gradually fading. Over the past twenty years, the popularity of homeschooling has grown significantly across the globe.
Deciding to pursue homeschooling is not a choice made lightly, however. Many parents justifiably question whether it is the right path for their child. The suitability of homeschooling largely depends on individual circumstances, with numerous factors influencing this important decision. Nevertheless, all children can benefit enormously from homeschooling since, by its very nature, it is infinitely flexible. In the particular context of Bermuda, it is one of the very best options on account of the mainstream schooling on offer.
What are the benefits of homeschooling in Bermuda?
Homeschooling has gained popularity among families in Bermuda for several key reasons, with the primary one being the limited options for schooling on the island. Many of the six fee-paying schools on the island, including the ones discussed here, are oversubscribed and may not offer the rigorous and challenging education that some students need. For students with high academic aspirations, such as those aiming for Oxbridge or a Russell Group university in the UK, a well-structured and comprehensive homeschooling program often provides a more reliable pathway to success.
Another area where Bermudian schools may fall short is in supporting neurodivergent students or those with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Effective adaptive teaching requires a solid foundation in pedagogy and a nurturing, supportive learning environment—elements that may not always be fully available in local schools. For students with conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), homeschooling offers tailored and adaptive instruction that enables them to reach their academic potential. In Bermuda, there is no dedicated special needs provision for students aged 14 and over, making homeschooling the very best option for students with moderate to severe learning needs.
Schools selection and homeschooling with Chapkin Edwards
If you would like to discuss Bermuda schooling options, homeschooling or tutoring options, please contact us here.