Figure 1.--This was Troop C of the King Edward VII School in Sheffield during 1954-55. Note how well turned out the boys of this grammar school were. Many troops did not give the same attention to wearing the uniform.

We have less information about school sponsoship. We know that anumber of Scout troops were sponsored by English schools. In America state schools often sponsored troops. This was especially true of elementary (primary schools) sponsoring Cub and Browine packs. We are not sure if this was the case in England, although we do note troops at private schools. Some grammar schools (academically selective secondary schools) also sponsored Scout troops. [HBU English readers ask why it is always necessary to explain school terms like "grammar school". The reason is that in America, primary schools are usually called grammar or elementary schools. Likewise public means a state school.] We are less sure about secondary modern schools and later comprehenives. A British reader, however, informs us that, "I've only ever encountered Scout troops in grammar schools and public schools. It is likely that the more working-class orientation of secondary moderns made Scout troops less likely there. By the 1960s when comprehensives began to be important, the image of Scouting was less appealing to many English teenagers, which may explain in part why there were few Scout troops organized at these schools. I'm not sure what happened to Scout troops at grammar schools that became comprehensives. Presumably primary schools sponsored Cub and Brownie packs, but we do not yet know this for sure. Troops sponsored by private schools, which often give considerable attention to the school uniform, often also gave considerable attention to the Scout uniform as well. The ethos at grammar schools also was similar to that of the public (exclusive private) schools and also gave considerable attention to the uniform.

School Sponsorship

We have less information about school sponsoship. We know that anumber of Scout troops were sponsored by English schools. In America state schools often sponsored troops. This was especially true of elementary (primary schools) sponsoring Cub and Browine packs. We are not sure how common this was in England.

Types of Schools

We noted quite a few troops at private schools, although this began to change in the 1970s. Some headmasters we spoke with at prep schools complained about the administrarive complications when dealing with the Scout Association. As a result Scout troops at private schools declined during the 1970s and are now not nearly as common as previously. Grammar schools (academically selective secondary schools) also sponsored Scout troops. [HBU English readers ask why it is always necessary to explain school terms like "grammar school". The reason is that in America, primary schools are usually called grammar or elementary schools. Likewise public means a state school.] We are less sure about secondary modern schools and later comprehenives. A British reader, however, informs us that, "I've only ever encountered Scout troops in grammar schools and public schools. It is likely that the more working-class orientation of secondary moderns made Scout troops less likely there. By the 1960s when comprehensives began to be important, the image of Scouting was less appealing to many English teenagers, which may explain in part why there were few Scout troops organized at these schools. I'm not sure what happened to Scout troops at grammar schools that became comprehensives. Presumably primary schools sponsored Cub and Brownie packs, but we do not yet know this for sure. Troops sponsored by private schools, which often give considerable attention to the school uniform, often also gave considerable attention to the Scout uniform as well. The ethos at grammar schools also was similar to that of the public (exclusive private) schools and also gave considerable attention to the uniform.

Individual Schools

We note Scouts troops at quite a few individual schools. We have only a few entries at this time, but will add more as we collect additional information.

King Edward VII School

The image here is Troop C of the King Edward VII School in Sheffield during 1954-55. Note how well turned out the boys of this grammar school were. Many troops did not give the same attention to wearing the uniform. This is a private school which the British would call a public school--a secondary level school.

Whitchurch Grammar School

We note Scout units at many grammar schools. This is a large Scout unit at the Whitchurch grammar school. We believe this is a grammar school in Cardiff, Wales. We are archiving it here because we do not have a Welsh Scout section. We believe that Welsh and English Scouting is essentially identical, but Welsh readers may wanty to comment on this.