Accra Ridge Church | Accra's Local Church

Introduction

On January 7, 2007 the Ridge Church School celebrated its fiftieth anniversary amidst pomp and pageantry.  Various activities were held to commemorate the occasion and the crowning event was the dedication of a 50-seater computer science laboratory.

The idea to establish a school for the Ridge Church was mooted by the then church Council in 1954. A flurry of fund raising activities enacted a generous response from the British commercial firms operating in the then Gold Coast.  The foundation stone was laid on October 26, 1956 by Mr. Arthur Colin Russell, the Chairman of Council who later became a Reverend Minister.

The school was opened in January 1957 with thirty-three pupils on its roll under Mrs. Ellen Strong’s (now Mrs. Bates) capable leadership as the school’s first Headmistress.  There was such a high demand for placement in the school for Ghanaian children, it led to the duplication of the classes progressively. The school’s impressive performances at the Common Entrance Examinations also impacted the demand for placement leading to the addition of a third stream in 1978.

Mrs. Gladys Osae Addo served as the first Ghanaian headmistress of the school. She retired in 1982 after twenty-five years of meritorious service.

Junior Secondary School

The school has since extended the primary department to include a Junior Secondary School shortly after the introduction of the school reform programme. This occurred in 1987/88 in partnership with the Ghana Education Service. By October 1990, the Junior Secondary School had been wholly privatized and housed in the newly constructed JSS Block. Altogether, the school has eighteen (18) classes in the primary department and nine (9) in the Junior Secondary school.

Academic Performance

The school has seen difficult and challenging times during which performances at the Basic Entrance Certificate Examinations (BECE) has been tumultous. By the grace of God, the school has been able to weather those storms and performance at the BECE has improved tremendously, to the glory of God. Efforts have been made to improve teaching and learning methods in the school and these have yielded very fruitful results so far. Gradually, the school is regaining its standards of excellence.

School Management Committee

The school is currently being managed by a School Management Committee (SMC) constituted by the Accra Ridge Church Council, whose Chairman is a member of the Church Council and the Vice Chairman is a Reverend Minister also a member of the Council. Mrs. Afua Dake is the current headmistress of the school.

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)

To enhance the participation of parents and guardians in the education of their wards, a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has been set up headed by a Chairman also a member of the School Management Committee.  The PTA has been instrumental in the pursuit of certain infrastructural projects in the school including the landscaping and paving of the school compound to preserve the environment surrounding it.

Recognition of Academic Laurels

Speech and Prize-giving events are organized annually to recognize the achievements of pupils. During such events, awards are given to deserving students in recognition of their diligence at their studies. Passing-out ceremonies for JSS 3 students are held after they complete the BECE.

Outreach Programmes and Activities

As part of its Outreach and Harvest programme, the school children and staff annually make various donations in cash and in kind to institutions and organizations that cater for less-privileged and sick children such as orphanages, children’s hospitals and other like organizations.

Spiritual Development

Being a Mission School, the school organizes annual retreats for the teaching and non-teaching staff, Christmas plays, Carol and Easter services for the school children. Wednesday worship services are held at the main church and are an integral part of the spiritual development of the children and staff of the school.