$15M Island Primary to open doors for new school term

Cayman’s newest private school is set to open its doors after a $15 million development project was completed in time for the new academic year.

Island Primary director and CEO Jennifer Cowdroy said excitement is building for the opening of the school, a project that has been two-and-a-half years in the making.

“I think everyone is super keen to welcome our students,” she said.

“They are part of something truly special as we get set to embark on making history and helping shape our future.

“We are literally days away. Most staff were hired almost a year ago and have been eagerly waiting for this day to finally arrive,” Cowdroy said in an emailed comment.

The school is 30,000 square feet set on 3.5 acres with all-grass fields, with over 100 trees and a developing community garden.

The school, in a post on social media last week, said that the campus had passed all of its inspections and officially obtained its certificate of occupancy.

Cowdroy, who was also the project manager, said since the announcement of the new school, the response in the community has been “really positive”, especially as there is such a shortage of school spaces in Cayman.

“We’re so glad to be able to help on this front, even just a bit.

“As the community continues to grow, the competition to get into a school has become fierce and we’re proud to welcome students of all abilities.

“We’ve developed an extremely strong team to support our learners of all abilities,” she said.

Helping fill a gap

Island Primary, catering to up to 350 children aged 4-11, will be the centrepiece of a planned community on the edge of George Town, featuring sports and wellness facilities and a nature walk through the mangroves.

Students will begin classes next Friday at the new campus.

Cowdroy said approximately 190 students are on the register for the new school term.

She said there is no wait list this year, although some of the upper-year classes are full or nearly full.

However, she said, “We have spaces in our younger year groups from Reception through Year 3.”

Getting a space for the following academic year may be tougher, however.

She added, “We’ve had an overwhelming response for registrations for 2024 and beyond, and, to be fair, a lot of families registered for the future as many questioned if we’d actually be open for 2023.”

Cowdroy said while the Island Primary team identified a location that was a perfect fit for the school, it was not just about opening a school, “it was about creating an environment that felt welcoming and comfortable, and also strongly connected to nature”.

“The opportunity to purchase in the newly developing Buttonwood Park, which itself has a strong connection to education, sport, wellness and nature was perfect, and we’re looking forward to watching the park continue to grow around us.

“Since signing the land agreement, it’s been 2 years of nonstop, 7-days-a-week, incredibly long days, and it is hard to believe we are only days away from opening,” she said.

The school was designed to meet a growing need for school spaces and, though set up for a primary school, could expand in future to include a middle or high school, the owners said previously.

Initially Buttonwood Park was not slated to feature any residential or traditional commercial units. However now Buttonwood Park investors say they are considering adding residential units and are working on a plan for that.

The concept for the area is the creation of an ‘education city’ – with the school as the anchor tenant in a dedicated area of community facilities and amenities.

The park is eventually expected to feature doctors’ and therapists’ offices, a coffee shop, swimming pool, playing field and a nature walk, among other elements.

Island Primary principal Stephen Coles expressed his gratitude to all who have played a part in the dream becoming a reality.

“Island Primary represents a huge commitment to a collective vision and we’re so enormously grateful to everyone involved for the combined efforts and expertise required to reach the point where we can finally throw open the gates and welcome our families,” he told the Compass.

“Our school is ready, our staff and curriculum are in place, and now it’s time to set our sights on building a school community worthy of the hope and anticipation that have built up over the course of the past several months,” he said.

Coles said it was a privilege to be a part of something so positive and energising.

“On behalf of the Island Primary team, I want to warmly welcome our new students and their families. It’s going to be a wonderful first year,” he said.

Buttonwood Park is being developed by a group of 12 investors, including the founders of the school, including Cowdroy, who currently runs Island Montessori on Crewe Road.

Island Montessori will revert to being an early years learning centre, with the primary school students moving across to the new and expanded premises from September.