
When the change to the Comprehensive system occurred St. Bernard's was relocated to its present building at Castle Rd.
Mrs Davidson was instrumental in introducing and implementing vertical grouping. A quotation taken from documents written by her at the time puts forward her philosophy on this system of education:
"A child's education is more than Physical Education (body), the three
R's (mind), the Arts (imagination), and Religious Education (for the spirit)
and we know from experience that success or happiness depends more on what
the person is like than on what he can do. It is the combination of relationships
between these parts which make up the person and therefore the emotional
growth is by far the most important factor in a child's educational development."
Mrs J Davidson 1st April 1977
In September, 1991 Mrs Diaz took over the headship of the school from Mrs J Davidson. She had been Headteacher of St. Peter's School for the last ten years and previous to that Deputy Head of St. Mary's First School for another ten years.
The teaching method at St. Bernard's was now changed from the vertical to the horizontal system as done in all other Government schools.
There was a badly needed major refurbishment carried out to the school commencing September, 1992 and which has only now been finished with the conversion of an old unused water cistern into a Music Room. This refurbishment also included some changes to the structure of the school itself making it as it stands now.
A Parents Association was also formed in 1992 and this proved to be very effective in raising funds for financing extra school projects.
In August, 1997 Mrs Diaz retired and the present Headteacher Mrs G Beiso took over.
