Boarding schools in UK

[Astrid Wootton]

No: HPFGUIDX 85215

There have been a few invitations to those who have experienced schooling
comparable to Hogwarts to join the discussions. I was at a girl¹s Public
(Independent) School in the UK and later taught in an Independent Girl¹s
School in Australia.  My schooling in UK was in the early 50¹s, so not
entirely relevant to Hogwarts in the 90¹s. But there is something about
Hogwarts that reads like a traditional and slightly old fashioned
environment, in some ways.  It¹s possible, therefore, to make some
comparisons.
Picking up earlier threads: our school uniforms (navy) were brightened up by
our school ties in House colours, as were the linings of our hoods in the
ankle length cloaks which we wore outside. There were 10 houses with 35
students in each.  So a school of about 350. Hogwarts reads very like our
school numbers, although each of the 4 houses had more students at Hogwarts
. I am convinced that Œabout 1000 students¹ is a flint. (I had arrived at
that conclusion before I had joined up to HPforGrownUps and was pleased to
gather that a number of other people had also reached this conclusion, based
on the same data..)
 We had a range of differently sized dormitories and we moved dormitories
each term to prevent close relationships developing. Each student had their
beds in a cubicle within the dormitory, and it was a serious infringement of
the rules to enter another student¹s cubicle under any circumstances. The
thin mattresses were of horsehair, and each term was marked by trying to fit
your body to the impression in the mattress left by the previous term¹s
incumbent. I remember well that on cold nights if you had a glass of water
by your bed, it would freeze over by the morning. (Rationing imposed during
the Second World War was still in effect: so no fuel for central heating of
any sort!) 
Each House had its own common rooms and some of these were very grand, One
house for instance having a wonderful old ballroom with a magnificent
painted ceiling. My House was originally a Tudor farmhouse, on the main
route at that time between Stratford and  London. I like to think of
Shakespeare walking pastŠ but I digress!)
Lunch was served to all the students, in the large dining hall, each House
with its own house table,  seating 35 plus house teacher. This was similar
to the Hogwarts dining room, but without the university style teachers¹
table across the top of the hall.  Breakfast and the evening meal were
served in our own house dining room.
Classes: With 50 students at each year level across those 10 houses, there
were several classes and students from all the houses studied together. I
seem to remember that there were about 15 to 20 in each class: say 3
streams.
House Prefects were decided by the house mistress, who took advice from the
current Head of House ‹ a senior prefect. As I remember we had several House
Prefects maybe two or three, and a Head  of House. I can¹t remember whether
we also had Head of School, but I assume there would have been and she would
have been selected by the School Principal, on advice from the House
Teachers.
Control at night time was significantly different from Hogwarts. We had
Earlybeds and Latebeds.  Earlybeds in bed by 8.30, and latebeds by 9.30.
Prefects were allowed up until 10.00. This was strictly regulated.
Things were significantly different in Australia. I taught at a girls
independent school with 2,500 students of whom only a few were boarders
(about 100 ).  There were 5 Houses. The house colours were not worn on a day
by day basis, but at a sporting event house colours and accompanying props
and costumes were very much a quiddich type affair. The roaring lion brought
to the match by Luna in OoP rang very close to nature!
Prefects were not selected according to their house. They were decided at
the end of the year by students in Year 11 choosing from among their peers:
they would  all be in Year 12 the following year. From among those selected
2 or occasionally 3 would be Head of School. There were a number of tasks
for the Heads of School including representing the school on official
occasions. There was no school dining room as such (though the boarders had
one). Houses were very large and there was not the same feeling of identity
as described at Hogwarts. However sports, music, drama and other competitive
events were  house events.
These seem to me to be the main  Hogwarts- related points.
Astrid


 
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