Outgoing principal of the Parkinson Memorial School Jeff Broomes believes its time for that Pineland, St Michael institution to be made into a sixth form school.
Addressing the school’s Speech Day and Awards Ceremony yesterday, the retiring principal revealed that he had made a similar request of the Ministry of Education when he was in charge of The Alexandra School.
However, he said, to his surprise, it was not acted upon by the Ministry until he left the St Peter based learning institution.
“Recently I heard the Ministry of Education putting a focus on sixth form schools. I smiled and noted that after extensive meeting with my administrative team I [had] submitted a proposal, not once or twice, but three times for the creation of a sixth form at the place from which I was sent to Parkinson and with no response,” said Broomes.
“It was noteworthy that just a few short months after my exit from that place, a sixth form was established there.
“As I said, I have to leave for something good to happen,” he concluded.
However, in the case of Parkinson, Broomes said he was not interested in having “a carbon copy” of traditional sixth form with a focus on sciences or communication and business studies.
“I propose Parkinson Memorial School as a school to take us into the future with the respect for a man whose name we carry, Augustus Rawl Parkinson. Our proud legacy of sport and culture, as well as a challenge to contemporary society in terms of technology, make Parkinson a sixth form school with a focus on technical and vocational education, technology, the performing arts and sports medicine.
“You can’t go wrong. And I would have left, so something good should happen here,” said the outspoken and controversial principal.