The start of a new academic year brings change for first-year students at Princess Margaret Secondary School, and one of the most visible updates is a revamped school uniform that has quickly earned positive feedback from teenagers and their families as the cohort adapts to high school life.
On Monday, the first day of term, incoming first-formers arrived on campus wearing the new uniform, designed to offer greater comfort amid rising seasonal temperatures as they navigated their first experience in a secondary education setting. For 11-year-old Sariya Perch, the updated uniform offered more than just a fresh aesthetic. “I feel good. I feel confident in myself and I feel comfy in my uniform,” Perch shared, adding that she was optimistic about the day ahead, saying “I feel happy. I feel that I’ll have a great day today and I feel that my classmates will have a great day also.”
Perch’s classmate Junia Carmichael echoed that positive assessment, saying “It feels very good and comfortable. It looks better than the other one,” and predicting that the first day of high school would be a success. Fellow student Faith Grandison, who will study in form 1S, also praised the redesign: “It’s great. I love it. And I didn’t really like the first uniform, but I like this uniform better.” Samaria Best, another first-former, echoed her classmate’s approval.
While the uniform received largely favorable reviews, the transition from primary to secondary school brought a complex mix of emotions for the new cohort. Grandison described the shift to high school as “sad and exciting,” explaining that “I miss my old school. I miss my parents but I got to learn so I happy.” She added that she was looking forward to meeting new peers and building new friendships.
Keshra Barker, a student from form 1C, admitted she felt anxious at the start of the day. “It was okay. At first, it was scary, but then I get confident,” Barker said, crediting her mother, sister and grandmother for helping her calm her nerves and feel ready for the new term. In contrast, Lashawn Bynoe of 1J embraced the new chapter without hesitation. “I feel amazing,” he said, explaining his reaction simply: “Because I went to a new school.” Bynoe also shared that the new uniform filled him with pride, saying “I feel proud. Yes please I feel proud,” and adding that he hoped other male students across the school would eventually adopt the updated style.
Parents also shared a range of perspectives on the new uniform design. Sevol Pommells, a parent of one first-former, said he welcomed the change, noting that the updated design is far more distinctive than the previous traditional uniform. “I feel good about it. I like it a lot, a lot more unique than a regular uniform, you know,” Pommells said. He also pointed to the rising temperatures across Barbados as a key reason the new uniform is a practical improvement, explaining “I believe that is much better, especially in times like this when it’s becoming hot in Barbados,” and adding that the new fabric is noticeably lighter than the old material. When asked about potential differences in cost between the new and old uniforms, Pommells said he had no concerns about the pricing, framing the update as a modern, globally-aligned change for the school.
Another parent, Kerri Taylor, also supported the redesign, though she noted one small issue with the fit. Taylor shared that her daughter found the uniform comfortable, but had to have it adjusted to fit correctly. On the first day of term, Taylor’s main concern was not the uniform, but how her daughter would adjust to the new educational environment. “Nervous, nervous,” she said of her own feelings, explaining that the shift from primary school to a new campus brings big changes that take time to adapt to.
First-former Kyjara Barrow said the new uniform took a small period of adjustment. “I feel good. At first I was like, but then I started liking it and I say, like, good,” she said, confirming that the uniform ultimately felt comfortable to wear. Her father, Jamal Barrow, took a neutral stance on the redesign, saying “I ain’t feel no way about it, it’s just a new look.” Because the uniforms are distributed through the Barbadian government, Barrow explained he had no basis to compare the cost of the new and traditional options. He also noted a current supply gap: Kyjara was supposed to receive three skirts as part of her uniform allocation, but “right now the government could only do one for right now.”
For Kyjara, the first day of high school brought a mix of excitement and worry, much like it did for many of her peers. “At first I was excited. Then I started thinking about all the bullies and all that,” she said. But reassurance from her father helped ease her fears: “He said it’s going to be okay. So I said okay. So I’m happy.”
Photos by Lauryn Escamilla