St Leonard’s Boys’ marks legacy of leadership after nearly 75 years

As St Leonard’s Boys’ School prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary, Principal Peter Cox has said the school — the first tuition-free secondary modern school in Barbados — remains true to its founding mission — providing generations of working-class Barbadians with access to education and opportunity.

Speaking after the President’s visit to the Richmond campus on Thursday, Cox said the school was born from the determination of ordinary Barbadians who believed education could transform lives.

He said: “The school is almost 75 years in existence. It was started through the impetus of working-class Barbadians who put pressure on the young leaders of the day, Sir Grantley Adams and Sir Hugh Springer, to find a school for their children. 

“They recognised that education was a vehicle in which their children could improve their lot in Barbados.”

The school first opened at Baxter’s Road in 1952 before moving to its present Richmond location — a site that has hosted several educational institutions over the years.

“This site has housed … the Polytechnic, St Leonard’s Boys’, St Leonard’s Girls’ and the Hotel School,” he noted.

In its early years, demand for education was so great that the school operated on multiple schedules.

Principal Cox said: “St Leonard’s in the early days had three school times. There was nine till 12, 12 till three and one till four. The roll of the boys’ school was 1 700 boys and the roll of the girls was 1 500 girls on this compound, so it was challenging to accommodate all of the children.”

Even after the opening of Ellerslie Secondary in 1966, Cox said demand remained strong.  

“Working-class Barbadians recognised that education is the vehicle that will lead them into a better life.”

Over the decades, he said, the school has produced graduates who have gone on to influence almost every sector of Barbadian society.

“We have produced Barbadians in leading positions. There are at least two parliamentarians. There are lawyers, doctors, lecturers, policemen, persons in all walks of life in Barbados that have graced the walls of St Leonard’s.  

“We have produced many entertainers as well, so the school has affected Barbados. It has served its purpose well.”

Cox also pointed to the school’s historic role in broadening access to free secondary education.

“It was the first non-grammar school to start in Barbados, so all the newer secondary schools came after St Leonard’s,” he explained.  

“When it opened, it was free to the sons and daughters of working-class families, while the other grammar schools still had to pay school fees, and that made a tremendous difference.”

In 2026, he said, the school continues to build that legacy — both academically and on the sports field.

“We dominate football and we’ve been dominating football for several decades,” he said, noting recent success in the Lance Bynoe competition where the team has won two years consecutively.

In track and field, Cox said he has set an ambitious target since becoming principal in 2023.

“It is my goal to win the boys’ section in the school sports, and that takes time, effort, planning and resources. We’re building it brick by brick.”

Academically, he said, the staff work tirelessly to improve results, pointing to the Spanish department’s response to a disappointing year.

“They doubled down. They gave lessons during lunchtime, they gave lessons after school, free, and the department entered about 13 students and had 12 Grade Twos.”

He also highlighted the unique role the school plays in Barbados’ education system.

“St Leonard’s is one of two schools that accepts students from across all 11 parishes,” he said. “Our average Common Entrance scores are below 30, so when you look at where we are starting and where we are finishing in five years, that is genuine value added.”

Despite societal challenges filtering into schools, Cox said staff remain committed to guiding students.

“There are times when we need to be firm with a student and then there’s a time when we need to hug the student and say: ‘Listen, you can do this.’”

Ultimately, he said, the school’s mission remains clear.

“Oftentimes at full assemblies I say to them, we are raising leaders. It doesn’t matter where or what, we’re developing leaders.”

As a source of inspiration for students, Cox wears a graduation stole on special occasions, adorned with various school pins.

“It gives them a sense that the principal is grounded and celebrates and is fully into St Leonard’s and I should too. And I will say to them, you can aspire to be this or you can aspire to be that.”

With the institution approaching a major milestone, Cox confirmed that planning would soon begin to mark the occasion.

“We will start now to look to see what we will do to mark the 75th anniversary,” he said, describing St Leonard’s as “ground zero for the working class in Barbados” and “a crucible for learning”. (LE)