englishangel wrote:I think after about 1970 there was no Senior Vith, as Oxbridge exams were taken in Upper Sixth. Judy or Mary can probably answer that one.
We definitely still had a senior VI in 1972 as Alex and I were both in it. We almost weren't allowed to stay on however as we were considered too wicked to help Miss Tucker when she arrived as new headmistress. DR summoned us both and told us that she did not feel our behaviour and attitude was good enough and she did not feel that she ought to leave us in responsible positions when she left! I think we were probably only allowed to stay on because Sue Foakes sacrificed herself on the altar of duty and stayed on for an extra year to be headgirl. I have to say that was the best term of my school career even though Miss Coles who had taken over from Miss Mercer wrote in my report that I had wasted the opportunities it gave! She had to hurriedly tell me not to take too much notice of my report when I got an interview at Oxford! I really enjoyed the relationship I had with the teaching staff and we were left pretty much to ourselves in the flat and could probably have got away with anything including having young men to stay!
The UVI entrance exam had a serious casualty in our year as Penny Evans who was Judy Evans's younger sister, was offered a place at Oxford conditional on getting 2 Es in her A-levels. Unfortunately she must have relaxed too much and ended up only getting one E and failing her other exams.
sejintenej wrote:How many of you understood how the country, government, civil service and associated autarchies worked?
How many of you learned the psychology of human relationships?
I think David is actually being a mite harsh in this posting. Actually I think we probably understood better than many other young people our age the government etc.
In terms of the business world - the reality was that nobody was getting that kind of education at that point - it certainly was not just girls at CH.
I learned a huge amount about the psychology of human relationships at CH. It may not have been the intention at all but I have no doubt that I have drawn on my experience at CH in understanding group dynamics, love, friendship and betrayal, the developmental life cycle in particular adolescence, middle age and old age. In practical terms I think I honed my listening and observational skills while I was there. I certainly understand the power of bullying and the importance of listening to children. I am sure that I have been more effective in confronting and exposing cruelty, lack of concern and neglect of people particularly children. I understood the ideas underlying resilience theory before they became fashionable and popular because I knew that something about my home experience meant that I thrived on the stress inherent in the CH environment while recognising that many people that I cared about and (some whom nobody cared about) were suffering badly as they did not necessarily have the same emotional support that I did.
I am also quite clear that I have been a really good Mum and yes my kids do talk to me and always have- in some ways the capacity to care for others and especially younger people was enhanced by CH not damaged by it.