In a standout showing for secondary education across Barbados, Queen’s College has claimed an extraordinary share of the country’s most prestigious 2026 national academic awards, cementing its reputation as a leading institution for student excellence. Of the 12 highly competitive Barbados Scholarships awarded nationwide for the upcoming academic cycle, seven went to students from Queen’s College, alongside three of the 21 available Barbados Exhibitions. The institution finished with a total of 10 national award recipients, a result that principal Mitchelle Maxwell says has filled the entire school community with immense pride.
The seven Queen’s College students awarded Barbados Scholarships are Azani Blades, Ethan Dear, Chaya Griffith, Kaela Hinds, Joshua Jemmott, Amaris Nicholls and Arrielle Thompson. The school’s three Barbados Exhibition winners are Anaya Moore, Brandon Squires and Daniel Wickham. In an interview with local outlet Barbados TODAY, Maxwell emphasized that this exceptional outcome is not the victory of students alone, but the product of coordinated effort from educators, family members, and the entire school network.
“Based on what has been made public, we recognize this has been an exceptional year for our school, with these seven scholarships and three exhibition placements,” Maxwell said. “This is a tremendous feat, and it brings a tremendous sense of pride to see what our students and our entire school community have been able to accomplish.”
She went on to credit the consistent, dedicated work of teaching staff, who have long prioritized student growth at the institution. “Our teachers have worked exceptionally hard, and we are so grateful for the commitment they bring, alongside the support from parents and guardians every step of the way,” Maxwell explained. She added that the award-winning students themselves demonstrated unwavering commitment to their studies throughout their secondary careers. “We are exceptionally proud of our students and their accomplishments, and we recognize that this is the result of dedication, persistence, and commitment on their part.”
Across Barbados, a total of 34 students received national academic awards for 2026: 12 Barbados Scholarships, 21 Barbados Exhibitions, and one Award of Excellence. Barbados Community College led the count for Barbados Exhibitions with 13 winners, while The St Michael School earned three, and Harrison College took two. When asked if this year’s seven scholarships marked a historic high for Queen’s College, Maxwell declined to confirm, noting that the institution has “always done exceptionally well” in these annual awards, and a full review of past records would be needed to confirm the milestone. Even so, she affirmed that 2026 stands out as a standout year for the school.
Maxwell shared that school leadership entered this year’s award cycle with quiet confidence, having already seen strong potential in the cohort from their prior academic performance. “We did have a good sense of what was possible,” she said, explaining that students who delivered strong results during their Lower Six studies were identified early as potential contenders for top awards. From that point, the entire school community rallied around the students to support them as they worked toward their goals.
Reiterating the critical role of educators, Maxwell praised teaching staff for their consistent devotion to student success. “They continue to apply themselves to their task. Every year they give yeoman service to pedagogy, working closely with students to help them reach their full potential,” she said. For younger students at the school who aspire to earn similar recognition in future years, Maxwell shared a clear message of encouragement rooted in the achievements of this year’s awardees.
“Continue to apply yourself, continue to be committed to excellence,” she advised. “It’s going to require, as it always does, hard work, commitment, dedication. You must remain focused, be intentional, and be purposeful. And of course we always rely on God for steadfastness in everything that we do as a school community.”
The 2026 national academic awards were officially announced by the Ministry of Education Transformation at a ceremony held Friday, where Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw offered formal congratulations to all award recipients across the country, and recognized the collective work of students, teachers, parents, and guardians in supporting student achievement.