the past has hurt Bermuda High School the most in the recession, its headmaster Mr. John Wright said yesterday.

He also said that unlike at least two Government schools, BHS had no problems with discipline or rowdy students.

"We have lost a lot of very good students because of work permits not being renewed,'' Mr. Wright said.

Nevertheless, new-student numbers were still up, he said, adding BHS had no plans to become co-ed to boost its student numbers.

Mr. Wright made the comments in unveiling administrative changes designed to remove what he called "artificial divisions'' in the private all-girls school.

As of 1993 BHS will have just two departments -- primary and secondary, instead of primary, upper primary and secondary.

Mr. Wright said the new system would make the school more unified. He said the advantages to students would be better academic administration and better development and organisation of non-academic activities.

Mr. H. Bruce Murray, chairman of the school's board of trustees, noted lunchtime and after school activities were becoming increasingly important as part of a school's curriculum to keep students from "going wrong''.

"They are more important these days particularly if you look at the dangers now facing young people,'' he said.

Mr. Wright said the changes were also necessary because students were grasping how to use computers much earlier and becoming increasingly able to take certain GCSEs earlier.

The primary department will include years 1-6 and will be under a department head assisted administratively by two teachers.

The secondary department will encompass years 7-12 and will be under the direct supervision of the headmaster, who will be assisted by two administrative teachers -- a director of studies and a dean of students.

The dean of students will focus specifically on growth and development of the girls beyond the school curriculum -- clubs, schemes, leadership positions, conferences, productions, concerts, assemblies, open houses.

The dean will also take charge of matters of attendance, health and discipline -- which at BHS does not include corporal punishment.

Mr. Wright added the reason the school did not have a discipline problem was because of an abundance of parental support and the fact its students were all girls.