Combermere School
Combermere School is a school in Barbados, notable as one of the oldest schools in the Caribbean, established in 1695. Its alumni include several leading cricketers, David Thompson, sixth prime minister of Barbados and other politicians, several authors and the singer Rihanna. In its first 75 years, the school "provided the Barbadian community with the vast bulk of its business leaders and civil servants " and it is "perhaps the first school anywhere to offer secondary education to black children". History. The school was initially established in 1695 as the Drax Parish School, under the 1682 will of plantation  owner Colonel Henry Drax (great-uncle of the Whig politician Henry Drax), who had left 200 pounds sterling for the establishment and endowment of a "free school or Colledge" "to continue forever". The executors not having acted in a timely manner, the parish authorities eventually did. The oldest secondary school on Barbados and one of the oldest schools in the Caribbean, it underwent several name changes and relocations before settling, withn the Parish of St Michael, at Waterford on the outskirts of the capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, in 1819. The school, named after a colonial governor of Barbados, Stapleton Cotton , 1st Viscount Combermere, bears tribute to some of the school forefathers through the naming of areas such as the Drax Square, the De Vere Moore Gardens, and the Major Noot Hall. It was the first school to offer secondary education to poorer coloured students on the island. Having started as a co-educational institution, it returned to a mixed approach in the 1970s, eventually reaching a gender ratio of around 50%. In 1995, Barbados issued a set of postage stamps commemorating the school's 300 years. In 2016, the school was closed due to environmental concerns. The remediation efforts were  slowed by alleged sabotage, but the school eventually reopened in 2017. Staff and structure. Combermere is led by a principal, assisted by a deputy principal; there are also six year heads for first form through to the upper sixth. There are over 70 staff in total, including a guidance counsellor. Departments and subjects. The school has 12 departments, each headed by a senior teacher. The departments are: chemistry, mathematics, geography/social studies and environmental science, physics, biology and home economics, English, music and fine arts, physical education, technical and vocational studies, history, foreign languages, and business studies. There are dedicated  labs and rooms for chemistry, biology, geography, physics, languages, music, computer science, and food and nutrition. The school has a pavilion equipped with a gym and changing rooms. There are two playing fields, a cricket pitch, shooting range, basketball/netball and tennis/volleyball courts. Also included on the premises are a library and an auditorium — the Major Noot Hall — and it one of the few secondary schools on Barbados, if not the only one, with a meteorological station. Combermere offers a music programme. It is also home to the Number 3 Cadet Company.