Industry News
Independent school prepares pupils for the real world
Posted on 19th March 2008
Brighton College, a top Sussex private school, has revealed how it tries to teach its older students social etiquette and conversation skills in order to prepare them for their adult life.
Richard Cairns, the headmaster, told the Times that pupils attend dinner parties where they talk about topics that the students may not know much about, such as politics or art, to help them to build their experience in dealing with such situations.
He admitted to sometimes wanting to talk about Eastenders rather than the situation in China, but said that "they learn to talk in a polite way to someone senior and that gives them confidence".
In particular the school is hoping to prepare children for the world of work, where Mr Cairns suggests that traditional rules of etiquette such as not putting elbows on the table at lunch still matter.
"We have a dominant culture in England, these are its expectations and we have to prepare children for it," he stated.
Higher numbers of pupils may soon be getting this specialised advice, as Brighton College reported a 43 per cent jump in applications this year after the state school allocations were announced, prompting it to expand its first year. 