Carlon Pitt, principal of Cumberland High School, says the institution’s merger with Hydel High School next month is expected to provide a significant boost to Cumberland’s sporting programmes.

Hydel has been among the dominant schools at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships in recent years, winning the girls’ title in 2023 and 2025 under head coach Corey Bennett. The school has also enjoyed success at the Central Championships and Penn Relays, and has made its mark in the ISSA Manning Cup competition, reaching the quarter-finals last year.

The Government announced in January that Hydel would be merged with Cumberland because of challenges associated with Hydel’s location and the underutilisation of Cumberland’s facilities.