Lucayan Indians, about 500 A.D., inhabited this picturesque island first known as “Yuma”. After the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, it was renamed Fernandina. Around 1725, Loyalists were given land grants under Governor George Phenney and settlement of the island took place.
This attractive haven for eco-tourism boasts spectacular caves, blue holes of undiscovered depths, pristine beaches, roaming wild hogs, wild birds, salt ponds, boat building and the ruins of cotton plantations. Long Islanders, however, busy themselves with craw fishing, sponging, and fruit/vegetable and livestock farming.
Education on this island has always been of a very high standard: spiraling from Grant-in-aid schools in 1853 to 13 Government operated all-age schools in 1990. Since that time the island’s shift and migration has caused the closure of six schools through amalgamation.
The seven schools – five Primary and two High Schools within this District have one PHILOSOPHY:
“We believe that in every classroom there exist students with a variety of stakeholders: Teachers, Parents and the wider community, must work in a cooperative effort and in an environment conducive to learning, to produce well-rounded, successful citizens who are prepared to effectively meet and overcome life’s challenges”
Toward this end we espouse our MISSION as being –
“To recognize, promote and inspire excellence in all persons involved in the further development of students in this district”.
Considering the available resources, National Examinations and reading level results indicate that students are achieving commendable successes with 74.6% of BJC students and 55.8% of BGCSE students receiving grades A-C.
In addition to the academic curriculum students are offered opportunities to participate in cultural activities, swimming and other competitions, After School Programmes and Clubs such as Boat-Building, Teacher’s Cadet, Chess and Spanish.
