The School System in Cayman

In primary and secondary education, there are 4,061 students in private schools, 2,248 in government primary schools, 2,509 in government secondary schools and 117 students enrolled in the Lighthouse School, the country’s school for students with the most significant special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Most children with SEND are enrolled in mainstream schools with varying levels of support. Approximately 118 children are homeschooled.

The Cayman Islands has excellent schools all the way from preschool through to high school and university, and although a few new schools have opened over the past few years, there is still a shortage of available spaces in preschools and primary schools. Parents hoping to send their children to private schools are advised to put their child's name down at their chosen preschool and primary school prior to, or within days of, the child's birth, and don't forget subsequent children! If the school is heavily oversubscribed for the year that your child is due to start, then they will usually advise you to put your child's name down at a second school as well.

The last two years of high school are also at maximum capacity for children wanting to do A-levels, as many students from government high schools also compete for these places. However, this may change as it is the Government's intention to reintroduce A-levels to government high schools starting in the 2024/25 school year. Space is also at a premium in government primary and high schools. See further on in this chapter about how to register your child for a place at a government school.

Parents interested in sending their children to Government primary and high schools must register with the Department of Education Services (located at 130 Thomas Russell Way, George Town, Grand Cayman) or the Cayman Brac Teacher’s Centre between 1st March and 30th May. See website at https://schools.edu.ky/registration/. Government schools are open to all students, but preference is usually given to Caymanians, followed by those with Permanent Residency and the children of Cayman Islands Government workers. Expatriates who arrive in the Cayman Islands outside of the regular registration period may monitor the DES website and apply for a space between July and August.

Improvements in Education - Public

The Cayman Islands Government have invested a considerable amount of money into public schools and there are plans for many more improvements. In the 2022/23 academic school year, they issued laptops to all high school students for use at home and school, they rolled out a free school meal programme to all public school students and they removed examination and graduation fees for Caymanian students in government schools. They also began extending full scholarship funding to Caymanian students enrolled at ICCI and UCCI. Other goals that are currently being implemented include supplying teaching assistants in all classes up to Year 9, adding learning support centres in each school and making literacy a focus in all schools by ensuring libraries and classrooms are stocked with books. To this end, Red Bay Primary School opened a literacy café in May 2023. In conjunction with Literacy is for Everyone (LIFE), the Ministry of Education initiated the 'Smart Start' programme in North Side and East End for preschool children. A goal for the 2023/24 school year is to establish a nursery class for 3-4 year olds at East End Primary School (now open). Goals for the 2024/25 school year include building a new Edna Moyle Primary School and opening a nursery class (for 3-4 year olds) within it. The 2024-26 Strategic Policy Statement outlines a plan to expand Prospect Primary School and build the new fourth academy at the Clifton Hunter High School, but both are still in the conceptualisation stage. Lastly, they opened the stunning new campus for John Gray High School, which has spacious and light-filled classrooms, modern laboratories, a library that is at the heart of the school, a gym, cafeteria and performing arts centre.

Improvements in Education - Private

Island Primary, a new 30,000sq ft primary school on 4.3 acres in George Town, opened in September 2023. This custom-designed school has 350 available spaces for children from Reception to Year 6.

Montessori West, a much-needed new preschool, is being built in the district of West Bay and is due to be open in September 2024. It will accept children from 18 months to age six.

Footsteps Primary School and CF School, a middle school, are both still planning to build their own dedicated campuses, but these will probably not be ready until September 2025.

Cayman Prep and High School are planning for all high school students to have their own dedicated school laptop for the 2023/24 school year.

St. Ignatius Catholic School completed their two-storey multi-purpose hall in the summer of 2023. It will be used for various indoor sporting activities, and it also has a number of specialist classrooms, tutorial rooms and other learning and recreational spaces for the school students to use.

The ARK's MER (Mentor-Educate-Reinforce) programme opened their first MER Hub, located adjacent to Sir John A Cumber Primary School, and this wonderful programme provides specialised intensive learning remediation in Cayman's government primary schools, at a pivotal stage in the lives of underprivileged children with learning difficulties.

Enrolment Age & Requirements

In the Cayman Islands, it is compulsory for all children aged five to 17 years to attend school or be home schooled. However, the reality is that the vast majority of children enter primary school at the age of four and do not leave until they are 18. For preschool, your child can usually start at age two, or sometimes as young as 18 months. A handful of schools will take infants at six weeks, if they have a dedicated nursery room, but at this age the adult/child ratio of 1:3 makes it either very expensive, or the staff are paid painfully little.

For primary school, the starting age is almost universally four, across the Cayman Islands, other than for expat children who are entering the Government school system who are not allowed to start until they are five and ready to enter Year 1. If children are going into the British school system (Cayman Prep, Footsteps, Island Montessori and St. Ignatius) they will enter Kindergarten at aged four. If they are starting at a school following the American system Cayman International School, First Baptist Christian School, Grace Christian Academy and Triple C) then your child will start in Pre–K3 at the age of four. If they are Caymanian and they are going to a Government primary school then they will start in Reception at the age of four.

However, some government schools do not have enough space in the Reception class (when your child is four turning five that year), plus some parents feel it is more convenient to leave their children in preschool until their child turns 5 and then endeavour to get their child a place in a government school once it is compulsory. This is a BIG mistake! Firstly, the Cayman Islands Government have a very strict policy that all children must go into their specific age group, regardless of whether your child is a very young July or August baby, or is socially and emotionally not ready for school. It is worth being aware that all children starting school in the Reception class start the process of learning their letters (the phonics), reading, writing and early Maths in earnest as soon as they start in the Reception class. If your child does not start primary school until Year 1 they will have missed this foundation stage, and will be playing catch-up, unless you as their parent has worked really hard to make sure they don't fall behind. If you cannot get a place for your child in their primary school at the age of 4, please make sure that you and their preschool is teaching them the sound and look of all their letters and numbers. This is really important!

Please be aware that a few of the private schools now have Pre–K2 years (St. Ignatius Catholic School, Cayman International School and Grace Christian Academy), which means that their students can start at two or three years old and will automatically move up to Kindergarten/ Pre–K3, leaving less space for incoming students. If you intend to send your child to one of the major private primary schools, make sure to register them early, and then accept the offered place in Kindergarten/Pre–K3 when your child is four. Deferring the place to Year 1 is never advised as it reduces your changes of getting your child into the school down to almost zero.

Most private schools in Cayman will only test your child for placement if they are entering after Kindergarten/Pre–K3. If your child is transferring from another school, they will likely need official school records from the previous school(s). If transferring at the high school level, an up-to-date medical record, that includes vaccination details, is also required.

How the Grade System Works

Learn about the differences in the grade system between American curriculum schools vs British curriculum schools in the Cayman Islands.

In the Cayman Islands compulsory education must start by 5 years of age.

School Standards & Inspectionskeyboard_arrow_right

Individual school reports published on the Office of Education Standards’ website (www.oes.gov.ky) provide detailed, impartial and transparent assessments of the performance of schools, teachers and students in the Cayman Islands. These reports are available for all to read and are a useful tool for parents to find out how their children’s schools perform compared to others or aid them in deciding which school is best for their child. All schools are now inspected once every two years, as opposed to once every four years, as previously mandated by the Education Act (2016). Note: You will find more information about education options both on and off-Island in the Cayman Parent magazine, available in outlets across Cayman or online at www.caymanparent.com.

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Caymanian Children

Caymanian students have the option to go to a Government school (it is decided by catchment area) or a private school. If a Caymanian chooses to send their child to a Government primary or high school then the Government has an obligation to educate that child from the age of five to 17. All three Government high schools end at Year 11 (age 16), but because the Government mandates that education is compulsory to Year 12 (or the age of 17), all children who go through the Government school system will officially be enroled in the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC) for Year 12 where they can take CXCs, GCSEs or a BTEC work experience programme.

However, if your child wants to go to a private school (overseas or in Cayman) so that they can get sufficient external exams (SATs, A Levels, APs or BTECs) to get into an overseas university, then their move must be approved by the Director of Education Services (DES) and they will be given what is called 'Dual Entry'. Without this designation, their previous time at a Government high school will not apply to their graduation criteria.

All government primary schools do have Reception classes (where your child can start as long as they are 4 by August 31st), however, some schools (eg West Bay Primary) do not have as many Reception places as they do Year 1 places. Make sure to put your child on the list for Government or private school as early as possible. It is a huge disadvantage to your child to miss the Reception year!

Expat Children

It is the Cayman Islands Government’s stance that expatriates employed in the private sector who qualify to have their dependants on-Island with them (i.e. earn over CI$3,500 per month and have two dependants on their permit), should educate their children in private schools. If the Government employs an expatriate, then the employee has the option of sending their children to a Government school, if there is space. However, most Government schools are at capacity and the Lighthouse School is completely full.

Expats are advised to work out carefully what their budget plus buffer would be, and whether they can realistically afford to school their children in Cayman. Sending your child to a private school and then asking the Department of Education Services if your child can move to a Government school because you cannot afford the school fees is not an option. If you find you cannot afford to educate your child at your chosen private school then the only options are to choose a less expensive private school, ask the school for financial assistance, home school your child, or have your children leave the Island. If they are between the ages of five and 17, they cannot live in Cayman and not be in full time education.

If an expat cannot find a suitable place for their child in a private school, and home schooling is not a viable option, then ask the Department of Education if there is space in a Government school for your child. They will try and find a space for your child if it is possible. However, no expat child can join a Government primary school in the Reception/Kindergarten year, when they are four years of age, the earliest they can start is Year 1 when they are five. If this is the case with your child please make sure that you and their preschool are teaching them the look and sound of all their letters as they will need this for Year 1.

Reserving a Place

If you would like to send your child to a Government school, you will need to fill in an official 'Student Registration Form' from the Department of Education Services' (DES) website.

If you would like to send your child to a private school, visit the school's website as early as possible after the birth of your child and apply online. The usual process is as follows: fill in the application form online, the admissions officer will then write back asking for a copy of your child's birth certificate and a deposit, and then closer to the entry date they will ask for a photo and your child's immunisation record. You will then be on the school's waiting list. It is worth noting that although school waiting lists are notoriously long, Cayman is a transient place and parents often put their child's name down on two different schools, so places do often come available with patience and time.

Schools will place your child on their waiting list on a first come, first serve basis, starting in September and finishing in the summer. Therefore, those born from September to February definitely have an advantage of gaining a place at their first-choice school. Please note that siblings, children of alumni, and members of the affiliated church (if it is a faith‐based school) are usually given priority at private schools, so even if your child is on a waiting list, enrolment is not guaranteed. Do not overlook enroling your subsequent children.

Health Screenings

All students entering Government or private schools in the Cayman Islands for the first time are required by law to have a health screening. The Education Department mandates that these screenings must be completed before the new school year begins in September. The screening includes a growth and development assessment, screening for vision and hearing, a dental assessment, the administration of necessary immunisations and obtaining a student’s personal medical history. Public Health Department staff will conduct the screenings, which are free to all students.

Appointments can be made at the school the child will be attending. Parents and guardians need to accompany their children and they should also bring the child’s immunisation record. Vaccines will be offered to children whose immunisations are not up-to-date. Parents may have their child’s health screenings done by a private doctor, as long as that doctor completes the forms provided by the Public Health Department.

The completed forms should be handed in at the John Gray High School Medical Centre (Nurse’s Office) from 4th July to 16th August, between 8.30am and 4.30pm. Once the record has been received, the child will be issued with a health screening certificate, which they must then take with them to school in September. For those attending schools in Cayman Brac or Little Cayman, appointments can be arranged through Public Health Nurse Kedine Hyde at Faith Hospital on (345) 244 7643 or (345) 948 2243.

There is a general perception however, that these tests are undertaken far too late in the education cycle to identify any special education needs in children. Over the years this has put an enormous strain on Government schools where up to 50% of children have been identified with a special education need (SEN). Most SEN problems can begin to be identified from the age of 18 months and are glaringly obvious from the age of 2.5 to 3.5 of age. If spotted early enough many issues can be resolved before the children enter primary school. This should be an easy fix for the Ministry of Education to identify and begin to resolve.

Thankfully the charity LIFE (Literacy Is For Everyone) have been rolling out their Thrive By Five programme and as part of it they have been observing and identifying children in preschools who need their sight and hearing checked. In the face of so much need, there are wonderful people who have identified a problem and are trying to overcome the many challenges out there.

School Uniformskeyboard_arrow_right

While most preschools do not have school uniform, all primary and high schools in Cayman have specified uniforms, as well as shoe and hat policies. Read more to find out how to organise your child’s uniform correctly.

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School Fees & Scholarships

Caymanian students do not pay school fees to attend Government schools. In the instance that a non-Caymanian student is given a place at a public school, then the school fees are CI$750 per year for primary school, CI$900 per year for middle school and CI$1,200 per year for high school. The fees for private schools vary widely from school to school.

The fees for private schools vary widely from school to school. The top preschools charge in the region of CI$1250-$1600 per month, but you can find many daycare centres that charge CI$650 per month (for keeping your children from 7.30am to 5.30pm). However, when it comes to preschool you definitely get what you pay for. The top preschools have the most magical environment where children learn through play and they come out at 4.5 years of age believing that learning and school is fun, they are eager to participate in lessons, with beautiful manners and they have been exposed to endless opportunities to learn about nature, animals, shapes, colours, numbers and early Maths concepts, and they have been taught the look and phonetic sound of the alphabet. Day care centres do not prepare young children like this. According to Peter Carpenter, former head of the Cayman Islands Office of Education Standards, "The lack of preparation in preschool is a fundamental problem. The largest number of ‘weak’ evaluations are in our early years private sector provision."

The top primary schools charge between CI$9,250-CI$20,910 per year and the top high schools charge between CI$7,086-CI$24,960 per year, but lower fees can be found at other schools. Some schools offer a sibling discount. Most private schools also prefer fees to be paid per term or annually. However, Government schools only go up to the age of 16 (after GCSEs) which does not make for a complete education, so there is enormous pressure on any private school which has a 'Good' rating in their Office of Education Standard report and offers an education to the age of 18. These schools can then properly equip a child for entry to university or a vocational training course.

All Caymanian students accepted at a private school to take A Levels can apply for a scholarship to help pay for their school fees. The full tuition fees are paid for both years of their A Level studies. However, the fees are paid directly to the school, they cannot be spent on incidentals including uniforms. The government also pays for all external exams. Students must get higher passes in GCSE and/or CXC (Caribbean Examination Council) English Language and Mathematics to secure funding. All students must obtain a minimum of 3 x C passes in their AS levels at the end of Year 12 in order to get the funding for the second year of 6th form. The application period for local scholarship funding is March 1st to April 30th. Late applications will not be considered. For more information please see the Scholarships page of the Ministry of Education's website: https://moescholarships.gov.ky/.

Switching Schools

Many Caymanian students leave the public school system and go to a private school either at the beginning of high school (Year 7), at the beginning of Year 9 (a year before GCSEs start) or at the beginning of Year 12 (for the start of A Levels). Many parents in Cayman also send their children to boarding school and we have been told that equal numbers of children leave for the start of years 6, 7, 8 and 9 – the final push being the year before children start GCSEs. When these pupils leave, places in private schools in Cayman are freed up.

Places at Cayman's two private schools which do A Levels (Cayman Prep and High School and St. Ignatius) are few and highly sought after. CPHS has 65 places available in Year 12 and St. Ignatius has 40 places. Every single student, regardless of whether they are existing students at the school or new students, must apply for a place on the A Level programme and must pass the prerequisites required for entry. This is usually a minimum number of IGCSE/GCSE/CXC all with A to C pass rates, and students are usually expected to get an A or a B grade in the GCSE subjects which they have chosen to do at A Level. However, it should be noted that two CXC subjects which are offered at Government high schools, Early Childhood Studies and Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM), are not considered 'access courses' and do not apply to your five subject pass requirement. Also, students and their parents need to be aware that a pass (grade A–C) in English and Maths is a non-negotiable requirement. If you think your child may be struggling in these two subjects try and do everything you can to get them through those courses, including organising some tutoring.

If you do want to enter your child into either of these private schools, you must apply by January of the year of entry and definitely no later than March. This then gives the family time to apply to the Scholarship Secretariat for a scholarship for your Caymanian child. The Scholarship Secretariat's deadline for applications is 30th April annually. Quite a few students also switch between the private schools, but before a switch can take place, and in addition to the normal paperwork (assessments) etc., there is a transfer form, designed and managed by the Private Schools Association (PSA), that must be completed by the current school and forwarded to the new school. As well as a standard report on the child’s performance and behaviour, this form clearly states whether financial commitments have been met. It is an essential component of the acceptance process for students transferring within the private school system.

Child Safeguarding Training Requirements

All teaching staff and all those that intend to work in an educational institution, and could be alone with a child, must undergo Ministry of Education approved safeguarding training prior to starting work. What it involves, and how often you have to do it, is outlined on the Adult Education page. Volunteers, and those that have limited or no contact with children, can undertake some training but this is left to the discretion of the educational institution. Pre-employment training includes doing the Darkness to Light programme (modules 1 and 2), or a similar approved course. Once employed each employee must do the a) Child Safeguarding Workshop Online Module b) Child Safeguarding’s Skills Development & Practical In-Person Module which can both be organised by the Ministry of Education. Email Camila Ferreira on camila.ferreira@gov.ky to get started. Finally, ongoing mini training and refresher courses are required at the beginning of each new school year.

Librarieskeyboard_arrow_right

Cayman’s public libraries are a great place to inspire your child to read and to encourage their love for books.

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