Titchfield High School, said to be the fifth oldest in Jamaica, celebrated its 230th anniversary with a church service at Christ Church in Port Antonio recently.

The school has much to celebrate, given its impressive performance in Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) exams, yielding consistent performances of 85 per cent pass rates in CSEC and 88 per cent in CAPE over the last five years. The Portland institution has a current population of 1,599 stdents.

The school which began in 1786 in Port Antonio under the Titchfield Trust offered reading, writing, arithmetic, Latin and Greek to boys. In 1883, the old military barracks of Fort George was leased from the Government by the Jamaica School Commission for the relocation of the school.

Headmasters of the institution began with Major William Henry Plant (1885-1927), who in 1886 established a day school for both boys and girls. The school consisted of infant, elementary and secondary departments. The infant and elementary were later separated from the Titchfield Trust and became the Titchfield School. Other headmasters include Sam Brown (1927-1951), CAP Thomas, Mortimer Geddes (1962-1974), of which the Mortimer Geddes Trophy was named for Boys’ Championship, Lloyd O. Chin (1976-1993), Lincoln Thaxter (1993-2003), Ivy McKenzie (2003-2008) and Richard Thompson who is current principal of the school.

Thompson, who was speaking at the church service, said Titchfield is celebrating 230 years of excellence on proud traditions.

“A tradition of astute stewardship of education in the parish; a tradition of excellent academic and co-curricular performance; a tradition of community involvement and inclusion; a tradition of humility while recognising and nurturing our talents; a tradition of moral and spiritual grounding and compass,” the principal said.

Custos of Portland Major Lincoln Thaxter, who is also a past student, commended the school’s staff and management.

“In its 230 years the school has grown tremendously in its capacity to deliver an education that is sound, relevant, and one that is propitiatory for the more robust demands that are expected of today’s high school graduates,” he said. “It’s principal, teaching staff, administrative and auxiliary staff, it’s alumni have proven that they have the ingredients to continue to make Titchfield a good name and a great high school for many more years to come.”

Chairman of the school board Lawrence Neufville said Titchfield has made an indelible mark in educating the population of Portland and the wider eastern Jamaica for the past 230 years.

“The institution has been brilliant in moulding the lives of thousands who were fortunate to have passed through its gates. As the world changes, the global education paradigm must similarly adjust to maintain its relevance. The Ministry of Education, the board of governors, and the executive management and staff of the Titchfield High are cognisant of this requirement to constantly adjust its education outcomes to satisfy these current and emerging dynamics.”

The theme for the church service was “Building 230 years of excellence on proud traditions’, and the sermon was preached by past student Reverend Margaret Downer-Messias.