Head Boy

Head Boy and Head Girl are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.

United Kingdom

In some British schools the student body (or the headteacher, headmaster or headmistress) appoints a member or members of the highest grade or form to perform a series of duties to help the organisation of the school; in a coeducational school one student of each gender is appointed. Head Boys/Girls are usually responsible for representing the school at events, and therefore must be good public speakers. They may also be expected to lead fellow Prefects in their duties. A series of Deputy Head Boys and/or Deputy Head Girls, or even Senior Prefects, may also be appointed in order to help the Head Boy and Head Girl with their duties and in most cases fill in for the Head Boy/ Head Girl if they were to take a leave of absence.

In other cases, Head Boys and/or Head Girls may be elected, either by a straight vote of the student body, a teachers' vote, or a combination of the two.

The traditional formal title for the Head Boy in most public schools in the UK is Head of School, although not in every case. Heads of School have considerable power and are often largely responsible for maintaining school discipline outside of classes, acting as eyes and for staff in their absence, and undertake duties to assist staff, such as dinner and 'tuck' shop duties.

Other Commonwealth countries

Public schools throughought the Commonwealth, outside of the United Kingdom, do not use the term Head Boy or Head Girl, instead electing a President or Captain of the student government. However, the title continues to be used as title for the elected head of the student government at private schools, as well as maintaining currency throughout New Zealand, where almost every secondary school has a Head Boy and/or Girl

All schools in India follow the same system as that in the United Kingdom, having Head Girls and Head Boys, Vice-Head Girl/Boy, Prefects and Class Representative. The Head Girl & Boy assist the teachers and administration of the school. Some Ghanian schools also follow a similar system.

Upper Canada College, a private school in Toronto, uses the title Head Boy differently, applying it to the student who has achieved the highest academic standing in their graduating class, similar, in principal, to the valedictorian at a American high school. What would otherwise be known as a Head of School at an equivalent British institution is known at Upper Canada College as the Head Steward.

In Sri Lankan Public and Private schools the term Head Boy/Girl is not used, instead the post of Head Prefect exists along with Deputy Head Prefects.

Outside the Commonwealth

The term has become familiar to American readers through the "Harry Potter" books; Hogwarts School is loosely based on British public schools. The term is also often used in Ireland.

References