Posted by Owen Roberts on November 16, 2007 at 00:30:18 from 91.125.218.134 user OwenRoberts.
In Reply to: Re: TarBoard:educational, was Re: Fireworks and Responsibility ! posted by John Giddy on November 15, 2007 at 21:59:35:
Roger may never, in theory, have read Catiline in the fifth form.
The English education system in senior schools (i.e. above the age of 11) used to be 1st Form for the first year up to 4th form for the fourth year.
The brighter pupils would take their O Level Examinations (now GCSE's) and, if they passed, go to the Removes for the first year of their A Level examinations. In Roger's day one would be taking the School Certificate instead of O Levels.
The duller pupils and those from the 4th who had failed their O Levels would go into the 5th form. One would shed non essential subjects like Latin (only useful if you were Oxbridge bound or going to study medecine - what would ML say) and history. You would take your O Levels and if you passed 5 or more proceed into the Removes. Otherwise you were asked to leave or move to a less demanding school.
From the Removes one you proceed to the 6th Form where one would take A Levels. One might stay for a further year in the Upper 6th for various reasons.
This system was fairly general although it could vary from school to school. Nowadays everyone is in years rather than form years.
The old 5th form was a rather unruly backbone of the school including many sportsmen and those restricted by lack of ability or laziness in the academic field.
One can imagine Nigel Molesworth (of Down with Skule fame) being a natural 5th Former and I think the same might of been true with Roger in spite of his ability with Latin in ML.