Posted by Owen Roberts on January 05, 2017 at 18:08:05 user OwenRoberts.
In Reply to: Re: The Blacketts school posted by Alan Hakim on January 05, 2017 at 10:06:54:
I can certainly confirm Alan’s thoughts on the summer school term dates. Many school terms ended on the penultimate Tuesday or Thursday in July. Public schools usually took external exams set by Oxford or Cambridge boards. In the 1920/30s these took place from late June until the 3rd weeks in July.
Between 1919 and 1951, these exams were for School Certificate at age 16 and Higher School Certificate at age 18. To matriculate meaning to be entered on a University’s register, meant passing 6 subjects simultaneously at SC level including English, Mathematics and Science. This entry requirement could vary but generally required a minimum of 5 subjects including any credits or distinctions.
These summer term end dates continued up until the 1980’s when external exam dates changed. After 1951, matriculation effectively disappeared and exams were replaced by O levels (later GCSE’s) and A levels.
Summer holidays ended after 8 weeks, although State schools only had 6 weeks. The difference was attributed to Public Schools working/playing sports on Saturdays.
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