Assembly
All pupils must attend one assembly a week, normally with their houses; however, the sixth form has its own assembly on Fridays.
The assembly at Bishop Stopford's School differs from most other schools. It begins with organ music during which all pupils and staff present must stand. A house prefect from one of the houses whose assembly is being held then leads in the procession of all the prefects from the two houses. Following the prefects are the senior staff, normally the Deputy Head Master and the Deputy Headmistress. Behind the deputy heads come the Chaplain. He is then followed by the Head Master's prefects, who are followed by the Headmistress. (The Head Master's Prefects retain the male prefix even when there is a female head). The current Head Mistress no longer observes the tradition of previous head masters who have carried in their academic hat; however, gowns are still worn. Assemblies are now less formal and less religious than previously.
Read more about this topic: The Bishop Stopford's School
Famous quotes containing the word assembly:
“That man is to be pitied who cannot enjoy social intercourse without eating and drinking. The lowest orders, it is true, cannot imagine a cheerful assembly without the attractions of the table, and this reflection alone should induce all who aim at intellectual culture to endeavor to avoid placing the choicest phases of social life on such a basis.”
—Mrs. H. O. Ward (1824–1899)
“There is a sacred horror about everything grand. It is easy to admire mediocrity and hills; but whatever is too lofty, a genius as well as a mountain, an assembly as well as a masterpiece, seen too near, is appalling.”
—Victor Hugo (1802–1885)
“Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)