To me 'A' levels seem to generate interest within and enable logical thinking, but this is not confined to just chemistry or whatever, but to life as a whole.

Admittedly it is a to stead environment within the school and so you cannot experience the outside world without some degree of effort and it is all the more difficult when stuck in the middle of no where!

If you decide to come back to do 'A' levels make full use of the time and make sure that you attempt different things so that you won't develop a narrow minded outlook at 18, Since from 16 onwards you begin to think logically and in some instances your views will contrast from what you thought at 14.

But whoever you are two years in the sixth form is not just about being stuck behind a book, it involves taking a opportunity of doing everything that comes your way, be it cultural, religious or sporting, But don't use this as an excuse not to do any academic work since striking a happy medium is essential so that you can make full use of the two years in every aspect!

lan Jenner

The Prefect system is harmful to those who are given authority and to those who are forced to submit to it.

Prefects known as "pigs" are generally unpopular throughout the lower and middle years, A boy can be a good friend, have a good personality and not affect the people he doesn't know but as soon as he is given the "white ring" or prefects tie he becomes "one of them". He is obliged to punish people for certain things done wrong and since no-body likes being punished, especially by someone who is only a couple of years their elder, then obviously a grudge is borne.

There must be authority in schools but does it have to be as petty as it seems to be with boarding school prefects? Living in a boarding school there are obviously extra rules and regulations, many of which have nothing to do with school life as it would be in a day school, Many of these rules are petty and produce an effective barrier to enjoying onself in certain fields, Such rules can easily be turned a blind eye to without causing a collapse of discipline and authority but some prefects revel in catching people and reporting them when the incident could so easily have been forgotten.

The best prefects are the ones that don't change when they are given authority and remember what it was like for them in their own lower years but unfortunately these are few and far between.

Corrupt prefects are not totally unheard of!