Backwoodsman and PA - I agree with you totally. There has been a big fuss in our local press this term over a newly introduced "smart business-wear" dress code for the Sixth Form of one of the schools, with the students bombarding the paper with letters of complaint about this "totalitarian regime" !

Alongside the dress code, the new Head of Sixth Form has caused further uproar by introducing a compulsory enrichment hour, during which the students go out into the community and help in old people's homes and so on. Apart from that, they are forbidden to leave the school premises, even at lunchtimes - which had previously been permitted.

I think all of this is a very good move. It is a great pity that in the past 20-30 years schools have ever lowered their expectations for their Sixth Formers. One of the worst changes during that time was the introduction of common rooms for the 6th Form to loll about in during their many free periods. At least some schools now are (re)introducing some compulsory silent supervised study hours which the pupils have to sign into.

I have a bee in my bonnet about all of this.....as you can tell ! Smart clothing for students and staff, neat, clean textbooks and stationery, tidy classrooms - all of these contribute to clear, uncluttered thinking, working and learning.

I'd better not get started on late 20th/early 21st century classroom furniture and layouts and how they contribute to poor behaviour and lack of concentration...

- jeanie