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Old-School Headmasters and Headmistresses

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by NeuroBeaker, May 6, 2010.

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  1. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
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    #1 NeuroBeaker, May 6, 2010
    You know what I miss? Headmasters and headmistresses. Not the 'head teachers' we have today.

    I remember when I first came into a British school (1998, year 10, the start of my GCSEs), it was under the authority of a Headmaster. You stood up when he entered the room, as a pupil you addressed him as 'Sir' and you saw your teachers address him as 'Headmaster'. He actually took quite a shine to me and often found me after school when waiting for a ride for a chat - although he was quite friendly towards me, there wasn't a pretence of "I am your friend", it was understood that this was an interaction between Headmaster and pupil. I respected him enormously and still remember some of the wise lectures he gave during assemblies while wearing his black Headmaster's robes.

    He was the last Headmaster of my old school, to be replaced by a 'head teacher' who is everyone's friend. While things were not exactly chaotic in my last year there, the 'head teacher' doesn't have the same sort of ability to stand silently at the front of a room and quiet it by merely glowering at everyone in stern disapproval. Things are too warm, fuzzy, and politically correct these days and 'head teachers' are just another symptom.

    Anyway, I came across this story on the BBC which is what sent me down this little path of contemplation...


    One less Headmaster in the world. I wonder if he'll be replaced by a 'head teacher'.

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
  2. sambomydog

    sambomydog Guest

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    #2 sambomydog, May 6, 2010
    You say you remember when you first came into a British school (1998, year 10, the start of your GCSEs? Son thats not history, you are still a young sprog:D
    Back in my day ( Boarding school) during the 70s as well as standing for the old twit (Headmaster), we also had the cane and slipper during the assembly. At the time i was taking CSEs getting ready for GSEs.
    You count your self lucky that you missed all that nonsense by some 17 years ish ;)
    God i sound like me dad :D But yes i see were your coming from :)
     
  3. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
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    #3 NeuroBeaker, May 6, 2010
    Hehehe - I suppose I still am rather young, but things have changed a lot even in the last few years from what I knew then to how it is now... unfortunately, not for the better. :eek:

    My school was an old grammar school, and our Headmaster still ran it as he did when it still was a grammar school. I thought it was a good environment for education. :)

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
  4. sambomydog

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    #4 sambomydog, May 7, 2010
    Why dont you leave then. I am sure there will be quite a few holding the door open for you:)
     
  5. Fan512bbi

    Fan512bbi Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 Fan512bbi, May 7, 2010
    You really picked the wrong day to be an irritating little jerk.
     
  6. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #6 Fast_ian, May 7, 2010
    Whoa! What the hell happened here?.... It seems that whatever Del Boy posted got removed (?) - I'd kinda like to know what was said to elicit such vitriol?

    Returning to the OP, my "headmaster memories" post could be *long* - Many memories, most not very good....

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  7. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
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    #7 NeuroBeaker, May 8, 2010
    Do we have a matured upstart in our midst? ;)

    Hehehe :D
     
  8. Hud

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    #8 Hud, May 8, 2010
    Ditto, boarding from the age of 7 ....common entrance at age 13 but then did O'levels, not GCSE's ??

    I think housemasters were worse than headmasters :(
     
  9. sambomydog

    sambomydog Guest

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    #9 sambomydog, May 8, 2010
    To the young uns that dont know.
    Standard school leaving exams were known as CSEs.
    At the next level there was GSEs which were known as O levels.
    Later they combined both CSEs & GSEs to make what we now know as the GCSEs.
     
  10. francisn

    francisn Formula 3

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    #10 francisn, May 9, 2010
    I don't recall O levels ever being called GSEs, and I can't find any mention of that via Google, though not saying you are wrong. However you are correct that CSE and O level were replaced by GCSE in 1984.

    And I agree with you about headmasters (and headmistresses) Andrew.

    I remember the venerable headmistress of the prep dept of my school, Miss MacTavish, admonishing us all at assembly because a boy had been seen by a member of the public eating sweets on the bus. This was definitely NOT the behaviour expected of boys from the Edinburgh Academy. I have ever since felt uncomfortable eating sweets on public transport and would never DREAM of eating such as a smelly burger in a railway carriage as some do :)
     
  11. sambomydog

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    #11 sambomydog, May 9, 2010
    Last edited: May 9, 2010
    My bad, i ment to type GCE not GSE.
    O levels were called GCEs, were as standard exams were CSEs. Together they made the new GCSEs. Even then i am suprised you never spotted the single letter mistake ;). Seems you cant recall them being called GCEs either mate ;)
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCSE I know this because i had 9 CSEs and 6 GCEs (O levels)

    History and format
    GCSEs were introduced for teaching in September 1986, and replaced both the GCE O-level (General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Level) and the CSE (Certificate of Secondary Education) qualifications, which suffered problems due to the two-tier nature of the system. Grade C of the GCSE was set at equivalent to O-Level Grade C and CSE Grade 1. Thus the final students to sit the former O-Level/CSE examinations were those of May–June 1987 and the subsequent retakes in September 1987.
     
  12. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #12 Fast_ian, May 9, 2010
    Damn, the *teacher* stood up (and often looked terrified!) when he entered the room.....

    +1 on the house master comment, but it was the deputy-head you did *not* want to see in my experience!

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  13. Hud

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    #13 Hud, May 9, 2010
    So you are not just a pretty face then ;)
     
  14. sambomydog

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    #14 sambomydog, May 9, 2010
    Well i don't know about that mate;)
    I will say this though, in my day only the top 5% of my school went on to take "A" levels at Uni or the old Polytechnics (collages to all you youngsters ;)). These guys were the cream of the cream back then.
    Compare that to today's 30% of students taking "A" levels. And it seems with record grades every year! Who says the exams are getting easier :D
     
  15. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #15 Fast_ian, May 9, 2010
    Huh?.... Your memory really is fading! :D

    You took A-levels in order to get into Uni - I my day, 3 straight "A" grades got you into Oxford/Cambridge, a couple of middle grades, pretty much anywhere else.....

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  16. sambomydog

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    #16 sambomydog, May 9, 2010
    Last edited: May 9, 2010
    Well thanks for that :rolleyes: My school did not provide A level exams, one would have to go to the Pollys then onto Uni.
    I will leave the thread now i think, to much hard work and hair splitting from the get go. Leave it with you guys:)
     
  17. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #17 Fast_ian, May 9, 2010
    No offense intended! [I did put a smiley in there.] I just wanted to correct your statement about taking A-levels at uni.

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  18. francisn

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    #18 francisn, May 9, 2010
    Shame - it's a good trip down memory lane :)

    Whatever they were called - I got 12 O levels in 1965/66 - not bad I think.

    Though I did A levels and got three in 67/68, I didn't exactly cover myself in glory and went to a Polytechnic rather than a University - and never regretted it.
     
  19. brian.s

    brian.s F1 Rookie
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    #19 brian.s, May 9, 2010
    Quite right old boy!

    I took 9 O levels, only passed 7, then went on took 3 A's passed 2, Physics and Combined Math. Then Poly for the HNC in Engineering. Was well known that if you were in a grammar school like mine, 3 straight As would get you into the top tier uni. A couple did in my year, 1969.
     

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