McAuley Primary Encouraged by Improved Performance in PEP

Encouraged by the improved performance of students in the 2025 Primary Exit Profile (PEP), the administration of the Spanish Town-based McAuley Primary School is looking towards even better results come next year.

“This cohort has shown remarkable growth with 60 out of our 113 students placed in Pathway One, which is the highest level of readiness,” Principal of the school, Claudia Byer tells JIS News.

“In Pathway Two, we had 42 of our students, and in Pathway Three, we had 11 students. There were significant strides in literacy and numeracy and we are happy, and we intend to only do better,” she shares.

She notes that students have been placed in several traditional high schools, such as St. Catherine, St. Jago, The Queen’s School, St. Andrew, St. Hugh’s and Immaculate Conception.

Mrs. Byer credits the success to the hard work and dedication of the students, teachers and parents.

She lauded the grade-six teachers, who conducted extra classes even on Saturdays and Sundays.

As teachers dedicate their time to ensure the success of the students, the principal says it is also important that parents play their role by making sure that homework is done and that they stay close to the school.

“Our students whose parents are involved in their academic life, they are the ones who are always doing well,” she points out.

For the upcoming academic year, the institution will be seeking to deepen its partnership with parents to get them to be more involved with the institution.

An intervention programme aimed at improving success in numeracy will also be initiated.

“We are expecting to just continue to do exceptionally well. A big thank you to all our teachers from grades one to six, who have always been dedicated. They give of their best and I really want them to know that we appreciate and thank them. We thank our supportive parents who are always there,” the principal states.

Grade-six teacher, Errol Campbell, tells JIS News that there was much jubilation when the PEP results were announced.

He says that the teachers are committed to the success of the students.

“We believe that our young people must make a valuable contribution to the society at large, and if we must stay back to do the extra lessons, we will do so. We want to ensure that equality and equity is there for our students, and so we go the extra mile just to help them,” Mr. Campbell says.

Top student Sohniya Rickman, who will be attending Immaculate Conception High School in September, tells JIS News that she was confident that she would do well.

“I kind of already knew that I would come out on top, because of my performance, and I am really proud of myself,” she tells JIS News.

Sohniya, who has ambition to become a businessperson, advises students to “study very hard, consistently do their work and just believe in themselves”.

Sohniya’s mother, Shari Johnson, says her daughter has done consistently well throughout her school life, placing first in grade five.

“She is very dedicated. From grade two to grade six, she has had exceptional teachers, and I am really happy that I sent my daughter to this school,” Miss Johnson tells JIS News.

Top male student, Romario Blake, whose ambition is to become a lawyer, credits the teachers, who “pushed me to my limits”.

Romario, who is on the way to St. Jago High School, hails McAuley Primary as a good place to learn.

His mother, Khaliah Lewis, reports that the news of her son’s success brought joy to the family.

“But I wasn’t surprised, because we made sure that he did his schoolwork. We pushed him, and we made sure that he did extra lessons. His teacher never really had a problem with him,” she says.

She is making a call for parents to “just be there for your children and ensure that they complete their homework. The school is doing well, sending out good passes each year. The teachers work well with the kids”.