Alumni reflect on the distinctive customs and disciplines that shaped generations of young women at Jamaica’s historic all-girls institution.
Westwood High School has earned its reputation as a producer of accomplished, composed young women, a legacy the Jamaica Observer attributes largely to the institution’s deeply rooted customs and traditions. Located in Stewart Town, Trelawny, the school has maintained many of these practices over more than a century, creating a distinctive identity recognised by generations of alumni.
The school’s visual signature begins with the Jippi Jappa hat—also known as a Panama hat—worn as part of the uniform but with a specific rule: students may not wear it past the principal’s building. Alongside this, young women maintain a separate set of white clothing for occasions when regular uniform is not required, except on Friday evenings and Saturdays. These sartorial expectations reflect the school’s emphasis on presentation and propriety.
Discipline and decorum permeate daily life at Westwood. Students observe silence during prep time, meals, and intervals—a practice that teaches self-regulation and respect for communal space. The school also enforces clear boundaries, designating certain areas such as teachers’ steps and staff rooms as off-limits, with violations resulting in disciplinary action. Even beyond campus, students wearing the uniform are expected to uphold the school’s reputation; those who enter stores without parental supervision risk reprimand if their behaviour is reported to the institution.
Table manners hold particular importance in the Westwood experience. Students must use knife and fork correctly and follow proper dining etiquette, lessons that many carry into adulthood as markers of the poise associated with being a Westwood girl. The school also offers both day and boarding options, with boarders expected to walk to church on Sundays in groups organised by denomination.
Among students, a particular culture of wit and camaraderie has developed. Westwood girls are known for their sarcasm and a practice called “lapsing,” in which mispronounced words are repeated by peers to highlight the error—all in good humour as part of school banter. Silence itself serves a dual purpose: while required during structured times, it is also used as a corrective measure, giving students space to reflect on misbehaviour and regain composure.
Westwood High School, established more than a century ago in Stewart Town, Trelawny, is one of Jamaica’s leading all-girls secondary institutions. The school is known for producing well-educated, articulate young women and has maintained many English-influenced traditions, including the wearing of Panama hats and strict codes of conduct, that distinguish it from other Jamaican schools.
Westwood High School is a historic Jamaican educational institution with deep roots in the island’s secondary education system. The school’s traditions and culture are emblematic of Jamaica’s colonial heritage and the enduring influence of British educational practices in Caribbean schooling, making this reflection on its customs relevant to understanding Jamaica’s educational landscape and institutional identity.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: Community · Island routing: Jamaica