St Gabriel’s School produced both the top male and top female performers in the 2026 Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (BSSEE), with Benjamin Enzo Lucien and Xiomara Alexis Lascaris securing the highest scores in this year’s assessment.
Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman, flanked by other officials from the ministry, announced the results during a media briefing on Monday morning.
Lucien topped the examination with a total converted score of 245.13, while Lascaris was the highest-performing female with a converted score of 244.60. Both students have been allocated to Harrison College.
The ministry’s results showed that Lucien scored 95 in Mathematics and 99 in English, while Lascaris scored 95 in Mathematics and 98 in English.
St Gabriel’s was also well represented among the island’s highest achievers, with four students placing in the top 12 overall performers.
The second-highest performer was Paul Anthony Gibson of Hilda Skeene Primary School, who achieved a total converted score of 244.88 and was also allocated to Harrison College.
Sharing second place on the same score was Kaden Orett Ward of St Cyprian’s Primary School, who will likewise attend Harrison College in September.
Peyton Michael Garnes of Blackman and Gollop Primary School placed fourth with a converted score of 244.60, while Lascaris rounded out the top five.
Other students in the top 12 included Danielle Shayla Benn of The Rock Christian School, Sakai Arianna Maria Cox of St George Primary School, Adelaide Mae Sikkens and Shiloh Noelle Brewster of St Gabriel’s School, Tariq Omarion Goddard of St George Primary School, Ahron Carter Lovell of Will’s Primary School, and Jaryd Allen Jones of People’s Cathedral Primary School.
A total of 2 764 students registered to sit this year’s examination, compared with 2 827 in 2025, continuing a downward trend in candidate numbers over the past four years.
The examination was written by students from 67 public primary schools, 28 private primary schools and seven homeschooled candidates.
Fifteen students were granted permission to sit the examination early. Among them was Garnes, who emerged as the highest-performing early sitter and fourth overall in the island.
During the announcement, Blackman congratulated all students who sat the examination and reminded parents and children that the results represent only one stage of their educational journey.
“I offer congratulations to all students who sat the examination this year, and this is of course only another leg in your life’s journey,” he said.
Students and parents are expected to receive details of school placements following the release of the results.
