Figure 1.--Students arrive at school in all sorts of ways, including cars, busses, and trains. Some children are lucky enough to live close enough to their school to walk to work. Generally children are expected to be at school by 8:30 am or 8:45 am. |
The daily schedules vary somewhat from school to school. The schedules tend to be very similar, but there are differences. Actual school schedules give a detailed idea at life at some typical prep schools. Here are some represenative schedules. Note that there are often seasonal difference at the school. Britain is located at a norther lattitude and there are thus substantial seasonal differences in hours of daylight. Of course this is especially true in Scotland.
A typical school schedule we noted at one boarding school is arranged as follows:
7 : 15 am Callover and prayers
7:45 Breakfast
8:30 Day boys arrive
8:45 Assembly for prayers
9:00 Classes
11:00 Morning break (American calls this recess. It is of course a vey popular part of the school day.)
11:30 Classes
1:00 pm Lunch
1:30 Rest period
2:00 Classes or games
3:30 Tea (light snack)
4:00 Classes, activities, prep, or free time. Younger
day children begin going home
5:15 Books away and wash hands
5:30 Dinner
6:00 Prayers
6:10 Prep (less for the younger boys)
7:00 Free time/Younger children begin going to bed (half
an hour later during the summer term)
8:00 Seniors to bed
8:45 Final lights out
The schedule at another boarding school is:
7:20 am Rising bell
7:45 Breakfast
8:45 Assembly for prayers
9:00 Classes
11:00 Morning break
11:30 Classes
12:55pm Lunch
1:30 Rest period or music practice
2:10 Classes (Twice a week there is a half holiday for - compulsory organized games)
3:55 Tea
4:15 Games*
5:45 Dinner
6:20 First prep
6:50 Second First prep
7:00 Juniors to bed**
7:20 Seniors prep
7:30 Middles to bed**
8:00 Seniors to bed**
8:15 Captains to bed**
8:45 Final lights out**
* During the Summer, afternoon lessons are all done from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, leaving the rest of the afternoon and evening free for cricket, tennis, swimming, athletics, and other outdoor activities. At some schools the children are allowed to substitute formal alternatives (extra art, orchestra, and others) for some of the game periods.
** Bedtimes and lights out are a half hour later than in Winter.
A typical day school schedule is:
9:00 am Assembly and prayers
9:15 Classes
11:00 Morning break
11:30 Classes
1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 Classes (Younger children finish at 3:20. Tuesday and Thursday are devoted
to games and the period is entended 15 minutes)
3:45 Tea
4:00 Prep
4:30 Juniors go home
5:00 Seniors go home
