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Westminster School - Westminster jargon

Westminster School - Westminster jargon: Encyclopedia II - Westminster School - Westminster jargon

Westminster School - Year names. Westminster has an unusual system for naming the school years, which can cause confusion to those not familiar with the system. For this reason the Under School changed to the nationally standard year names in September 1997. Under School (no longer in use) Year 3: Year not in existence until after names were dropped Year 4: Petty B Year 5: Petty A Year 6: Form 1 Year 7: Form 2 Year 8: Remove See also:

Westminster School, Westminster School - History, Westminster School - Location, Westminster School - Notable buildings, Westminster School - Customs, Westminster School - Entry, Westminster School - Westminster jargon, Westminster School - Year names, Westminster School - Other jargon and Slang, Westminster School - Houses, Westminster School - Sport Station, Westminster School - Former pupils

Westminster School, Westminster School - Customs, Westminster School - Entry, Westminster School - Former pupils, Westminster School - History, Westminster School - Houses, Westminster School - Location, Westminster School - Notable buildings, Westminster School - Other jargon and Slang, Westminster School - Sport Station, Westminster School - Westminster jargon, Westminster School - Year names

Westminster School: Encyclopedia II - Westminster School - Westminster jargon

Westminster School - Westminster jargon

Westminster School - Year names

Westminster has an unusual system for naming the school years, which can cause confusion to those not familiar with the system. For this reason the Under School changed to the nationally standard year names in September 1997.

Under School (no longer in use)

Year 3: Year not in existence until after names were dropped
Year 4: Petty B
Year 5: Petty A
Year 6: Form 1
Year 7: Form 2
Year 8: Remove

Great School (still in use)

Year 9: Vth Form
Year 10: Lower Shell
Year 11: Upper Shell
Year 12: VIth Form
Year 13: Remove

When the above names were phased out, entrance to the Under School was at 'about' 8 (though in practice, many entrants were 7); now the cut-off is precise (pupils must be 7 on the first day of the school year to join Year 3), which means that while direct comparison is not possible, it has been speculated that Year 3 would have been called 'Petty C'.

The Lower and Upper Shell years are named for the shell-like alcove up School where they were originally taught.

Westminster School - Other jargon and Slang

Abbey When used without an article refers to the compulsory morning service in the Abbey on Mondays and Fridays; "It's time for Abbey". Begging a Play Making a request for a Play (qv). The Dean annually begs a play at the Greaze, but other plays may also be begged especially in recognition of notable events in the life of the School. The Challenge The exam sat by pupils applying for scholarships. Wholly oral until 1855. Chit A note from a housemaster, which allows a pupil to buy something (Usually uniform or stationary) from the school shop. The cost is added to the school fees. Dignissima Latin for "most worthy". An award given to a pupil for an outstanding piece of work, only the very cleverest pupils earn them and they are usually only given to younger boys. This is now called a Digniora, and the award given is a silver three-penny piece. Once three have been earned they are exchanged for a book voucher. Expedition A school trip for members of the lower school, which usually involves some sort of outdoor pursuits. Gating Pupils are 'gated' as the worst form of punishment next to expulsion or suspension. A pupil who has been gated must attend detention every day, and register at 8.15 usually for a week. This is most often given for smoking, drinking or cutting lessons. The Greaze Annual pancake fight. See customs. Green Dean's Yard; The lawn in the middle of greater Dean's yard; "They played football on Green" (always without an article). House Singing Competition The Highlight of the Westminster social calender, which resembles drunken Karaoke. LO Excused from Station (owing to illness, for example). It is speculated that LO stands for "leave off" from the normal station lists. The letters actually stand for 'Library Order,' as upon recieving an LO pupils often must report to the library for private study. Muck-up day The last day of school for the remove, before study leave. Pupils try to do something memorable that will go down in the lore of the school. Famous examples are the cementing of a toilet to the toilets roof, the painting of TJP "ite domum" in six foot letters on the roof of most of the buildings in yard, the dropping of several thousand bouncy balls into Little Dean's yard. Occupat During the annual Anglican confirmation service, non-church goers are confined to their houses. This is referred to as occupat. The Pink List The list of pupils and members of the Common Room of the school. This exists both as a small notebook and as a computer database. Play A day's holiday, especially in conjunction with a notable event. Annual plays are the Queen's Play and the Dean's Play. The most recent extraordinary play was the Pooh Play in recognition of the School's selling the rights of Winnie the Pooh to the Walt Disney Corporation. The day on which a play occurs is usually a Saturday. SAP Saturday afternoon punishment; detention on a Saturday afternoon. It is usually given for missing Abbey, station, Latin prayers, or not giving homework in. Until recently this consited of running around green. Shag (Day) Pupils may attend school wearing clothes not specified by the uniform code, but are expected to give to charity if they do so. This is only permitted on certain days; "It's Shag Day on Friday." Station Sports which are compulsory and held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2:00pm onwards; "He missed Station as he was sick". The Tree The famous old Oak Tree in Little Dean's Yard. More recently the abbreviated name of the Westminster Tree website. Up (house, School, etc.) In. "You should be up house if you don't have a lesson", "Latin prayers take place up School", "Sir John Gielgud was up Grants from 1917 to 1921". Events in Vincent Square are said to be "up Fields", particularly among the Common Room. An exception to the rule is that one is never "up College", only "in College". Yard Little Dean's Yard; "He was in Yard" (always without an article).