Being British XIII

[coolh5000]

Since the last thread has started to overflow, here is a new one for the continuation of discussions on all things British. The last two questions to be asked were:

Do British publics schools (or just state schools or non-boarding schools) have prefects like there are at Hogwarts? What about Head Boys and Head Girls? Or is this something that only exists in boarding schools? Or do what they have in public schools have different names?

I was wondering how common uniforms are in British high-schools?
Thanks

[wishbones and witches]

Do British publics schools (or just state schools or non-boarding schools) have prefects like there are at Hogwarts? What about Head Boys and Head Girls? Or is this something that only exists in boarding schools? Or do what they have in public schools have different names?
They're pretty common. Both the secondary schools I've been to have Prefects and a Head Girl and Boy. Though I should point out that there's a lot more than eight prefects in most of them; in my school over half the year group is made up of prefects. Not all schools have them, but there are quite a lot that do.

I was wondering how common uniforms are in British high-schools?
From what I've seen, more schools have uniforms than not. Sixth forms and colleges (for 16-18 year olds) don't even if they're part of schools that do have uniforms. Some sixth forms have strict dress codes though and they make you were suits and business wear to school.

Hope I helped!
xxSue

[Sapphire at Dawn]

Do British publics schools (or just state schools or non-boarding schools) have prefects like there are at Hogwarts? What about Head Boys and Head Girls? Or is this something that only exists in boarding schools? Or do what they have in public schools have different names?

I think it depends on the school. My sixth form was technically a state school, but it was compulsory boarding for years 7-11, so in practice it was more like a private school. They had prefects and a Head Boy and Girl, but it was only the sixth formers who were eligable for them. I think that year 11s had boarding prefects, but I can't be sure. With other state schools, it depends. The school that majority of my friends went to didn't hve prefects, but their like sister school did. They didn't have a Head Boy or girl, though. I would disagree that outside private or boarding schools that the prefect system is common, though. When you see state schools on TV, they never mention prefects or the like, and other than the one mentioned, I've never heard of a state school having prefects.

What you've also got to remember is that the system will differ from school to school. In my secondary school, we had a lot more duties with the students than at the sixth form. We had to partol at lunch time, sit at a lunch table with the younger students, do door duty into the dining room, and had a form assigned to us for wet breaks and stuff. In the sixth form, as far as I could tell, it was just a ceremonial position. You wore a posh cape at open day and prizegiving. The system will differ from school to school.

I was wondering how common uniforms are in British high-schools?

Incredibly common. I've never seen a school that hasn't had a uniform.

Hope this helps.

Sarah x

[MissMeg]

I have another question. Do people drink egg nog in Great Britain?
Thank you so much for all the help.

[Sapphire at Dawn]

Well, I've never had it, but Mrs Weasley dishes it out at Christmas, so apparently we do

Sarah x

[psijupiter]

I've never had it either, I don't think I know anyone who has. Googling informs me that the drink probably originated in England though. Given the number of raw eggs in it, I wonder if it's popularity decreased around the time of the salmonella/raw egg scare Britian had in the late 80s? That's just speculation though.

[FlightOfSong]

Hey guys! Wondering: do you guys use the word pram a lot? Or would it be more appropriate to say stroller or baby carriage?

[Midnight Storm]

I'm just wondering... what are the average British "mild" insults? In FF, I've seen 'git' used often, as well as 'dolt.'

Please reply!

~Midnight Storm

[Sapphire at Dawn]

It depends on who you're insulting and why, I suppose. I'd use 'git', but only 'dolt' when I was being sarcastic; I've never really heard it used elsewhere. 'Idiot', 'loser', 'twit', 'sod' are all words you could use. My dad uses 'wally' when one of us are being stupid, but that's only on humourous occasions. They're all I can really think of at the moment.

Sarah x

[Equinox Chick]

Umm, I use 'muppet' when I'm being humorous.

There are other mild insults that are more insulting. 'Dolt' is a bit old fashioned, I'd have thought, but maybe it's come back into vogue. 'Twonk' is like a cross between 'twit' and 'plonker'. Plonker is a great 1980's one from a TV series.

~Carole@