HEAD BOY

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

Contents

United Kingdom

Other Commonwealth countries

Outside the Commonwealth

United Kingdom

In some British schools the student body (or the headteacher, headmaster or headmistress) appoints a member of the highest grade or form to perform a series of duties to help the organisation of the school. Normally one boy (who becomes the "Head Boy") and/or one girl (who becomes the "Head Girl") are chosen to do this. Head Boys/Girls are usually responsible for representing the school at events, and therefore must be good public speakers.
It is not uncommon for a series of Deputy Head Boys and/or Deputy Head Girls to be appointed in order to help the Head Boy and Head Girl with their duties. A lower rank position may be that of prefect or 'captain'. Even the lower ranks are highly coveted positions, and not to be undermined, as only relatively few are selected.
It is seen in many schools that when a student vote takes place, the Head Boy/Girl race becomes a "popularity contest". In recent years it has not been uncommon for Head Boys and Head Girls to put up posters and rally support through stunts and events, making the race seem very Americanised. Elections are also something often surrounded in rumour, speculation and mystery. Sometimes it is a straight vote of the student body, sometimes it is a teachers' vote, and sometimes a mix 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 in many public schools have considerable power and are often largely responsible for maintaining school discipline outside class. They act as the eyes and ears for staff when they are not around, 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 (where the term "public school" has a different meaning), 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 applied to the elected head of the student government at private schools.
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 an U.S. American high school. What would otherwise be known as a Head of School at an equivalent British institution is known at UCC as the Head Steward.
Schools in Australia use the term School Captain, or occasionally, College Captain or Head Prefect.
Schools in India follow the same system, having Head Girls and Head Boys, Vice-Head Girl/Boy, Prefects and Class Representative. While Class Representative hold a more important position in their own class, Prefects wield more power. Some schools replace the term Class Representative with a monitor. The Head Girl & Boy assist the teachers and administration of the school.
All School in Ghana follow a similar system, having sometimes Head Girl and Head Boy but usually the terms School Prefect or Senior Prefect are used with Deputy School or Senior Prefects. There are positions like Library prefect, Entertainment Prefect, Sports prefect. In boarding schools there are also additional positions like Dining Hall Prefect, Chapel (or Chaplaincy) Prefects in addition to two or three prefects for each house (dormitory group). While Class Monitors (or Prefects) hold a more important position within their own class, Prefects wield more power everywhere else in school. The School Prefects assist the teachers and administration of the school.

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.