DESPITE the well-documented exploits of Holmwood Technical in Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) competitions, Principal Paul Bailey said the school has also been “doing well over the years academically”.

Holmwood recently fought bravely to tick off a 10th Girls’ Athletics Championship title in 11 years to complement a fairly rich history in schools’ netball and cricket.

Such sporting feats have served to heighten the school’s profile, but Bailey, who has headed Holmwood since 1996, proudly stated that academics is the institution’s primary function.

“Our sport achievements get quite a bit of publicity… so some persons are of the view that this is a sports school and they are not aware of the academic achievements. But we have been doing well over the years, academically, and we will continue to do so,” he told the Jamaica Observer during last week Monday’s visit to the 77-year-old school.

Bailey, a past student of Holmwood and a member of the teaching staff since 1983, identified favourable results in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), strong performances in technical subjects, and above average returns in Mathematics and English.

“Look at technical subjects yearly and those averages are above 85 per cent. The Math and English we struggle with that across the region, and we (at Holmwood) are just above the average. For the CAPE programme, since 2003 the overall pass hasn’t fallen below 82%.

“We can’t be seen only as a sports school. We have done well in cricket and done well in netball, but importantly, we have done well academically. That is still the main focus here… definitely!” Bailey said.

In the meantime, the Christiana-located institution received a massive boost when Member of Parliament Audley Shaw, speaking during the morning’s celebratory devotion, made a commitment to support its participation at the upcoming Penn Relays in the United States.

Bailey told the Observer that the school was faced with a “major challenge” of acquiring approximately $1.2m to cover travel expenses to the annual relay carnival.

But moments later, the MP for North East Manchester eased fears when he announced that he will be “raising the $1 million for Penns”, while congratulating the school for showing “spirit” and “steely determination” in the come-from-behind Champs win.

Holmwood’s athletics team is sponsored by Nike, Carimed Limited, Windalco, as well as Tropical Blue Spring Water in Lititz, St Elizabeth.

In addition, Bailey acknowledged the assistance from the past students’ body and the general school community.