Parent FAQs

Primary:

• Juniors are late after 8:20 a.m.; Infants after 8:30 a.m.
• Repeated lateness may result in a letter home and follow-up meeting.

Secondary:

School begins at 8.15am. Students arriving after 8:30 a.m. must report to the nurse to obtain a late slip or will be marked absent.

Parents must submit an excusal via ManageBac or contact the nurse.

Primary

• Work is only sent home for approved reasons (e.g. illness, bereavement, school representation), not for extended holidays.

Secondary:

• Students are responsible for collecting missed work and completing it within an agreed timeframe.

Prior parent permission is required. Students must be signed out at the front office and may only be released to an authorised adult.

• The teacher or nurse will assess the child. Students must obtain permission to visit the nurse.

• The nurse will contact parents if the student needs to go home. Parents will be notified if a doctor’s visit is recommended.

• Children with fever or vomiting must remain home for 24 hours symptom-free before returning.

• All medication must be administered by the school nurse. A parent note must accompany medication.

• Students with allergies must have an EpiPen, with an additional one held by the nurse.

Primary:

• You can view Primary uniform guidance here.

Secondary:

• You can view Secondary uniform guidance here.

Primary:

• Homework is age-appropriate and designed to reinforce learning.
• Parents should contact the class teacher if homework becomes stressful or problematic.

Secondary:

Students are expected to manage and complete missed or assigned work independently, with support from their Learning Advisor if needed.

• Clear, stepped Codes of Conduct supports positive behaviour. These outline behaviour expectations and consequences.
• Emphasis is placed on honesty, respect, responsibility, and restorative responses.
• Serious or repeated behaviour concerns escalate to the Primary or Secondary Leadership Team
• Students are expected to report concerns and seek help proactively.

Primary:

• Students may not use personal phones during the school day.
• Phones seen or used are confiscated and must be collected by a parent.

Secondary:

• Phones may be brought to school, however phones and similar and devices must not be used or visible between 8:15 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. unless explicitly permitted by a teacher.
• Phones seen or used at other times are confiscated and must be collected by a parent.

We share updates through our online learning platform, email, newsletters, and scheduled parent–teacher conferences; our social media channels give families a window into daily school life. See the full explanation here.

We have an active Parent Teacher Association. Parents are encouraged to volunteer, attend events, and support school initiatives – partnerships with families are central to our culture. You can read more about our PTA here.

Assessment is designed to improve learning, not just record it. We use clear criteria so students and parents can see where a child is now, what comes next, and how best to get there; assessment also informs teaching and curriculum review.

Teachers check learning throughout the year through classwork, short quizzes, projects, performances, and examinations. Clear feedback is always offered, and results are shared in planners, our online gradebook, and student portfolios. 

In Primary, students also take the Measures of Academic Progress test three times a year to track growth, and report cards use five clear performance levels with teacher comments and scheduled conferences to follow up. 

In Secondary, grades follow published scales for each year group, and age-appropriate national and international examinations help show progress toward graduation.

Classroom teaching is differentiated so every student can access the curriculum. Students with diagnosed needs receive a tiered level of support through our Learning Support Programme; this may include in-class help or one-to-one sessions with specialist teachers. For students who are not able to access external examination pathways from Grade 9 onward, we offer a functional life-skills programme called THRIVE (eligibility typically from age 14).

Students can choose from a wide range of activities—sports, music, drama, service clubs, and academic enrichment—and are encouraged to balance learning with creativity, activity, and service. A full description is available in our “Beyond the Classroom” section.

Yes. Both our Primary and Secondary schools have active Student Councils, and students can also be chosen to be House Leaders. In Grade 11, students may be selected to serve as prefects, or even as our head Girl or head Boy.

Our 35-acre campus includes modern classrooms, science labs, dedicated art and music studios, and the Hurricane Hub Library; all indoor learning spaces are air-conditioned. Sports facilities include a swimming pool, a golf course, playing fields for soccer and softball, and courts for volleyball and basketball.

Yes. Drop-off and pick-up for St Andrew’s students are offered by an independent bus company; contact our Business Office for details.

Students graduate with the St Andrew’s High School Diploma. Many also earn the full International Baccalaureate Diploma. Some students take the Bahamas Junior Certificate in Grade 9 and Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education and Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations in Grade 10.

Our graduates go on to leading universities worldwide, most commonly in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, with others attending in Europe and Asia.

Yes. Dedicated university counselling begins in Grade 9 and supports course selection, applications, entrance examinations, and scholarships.

• Students and parents should begin with the Class Teacher or Learning Advisor, who may involve counsellors or administration as appropriate.

• Contact the Primary or Secondary Leadership Team if needed

• Contact the Principal if unresolved