Cultural differences Scotland and England

[CauleyMacGlochlin]

So surprised to see on a recent thread that in England secondary school pupils are often not allowed out of school for lunch until 6th form, which Google tells me means 16-18. I'm gobsmacked. I've never heard of anything like this in Scotland and I've lived all over the country (grew up in Glasgow and moved around in adulthood)

I also recently discovered that English school pupils can't leave education at 16. They have to stay in education til 18 unless they have an apprenticeship.

Got me thinking about cultural differences between the countries that I've maybe been oblivious all this time. Any others?

There's a school-starting age difference between England and Scotland. In Scotland, children starting school in August 2024 will have 5th birthdays between 1st March 2024 and 28th February 2025. We don't have a Reception year.

Free bus passes for young people up to 22 and all over 60s, over the whole country. Does mean buses are packed for about half an hour when schools come out.

I don’t feel that they are meant for me either. I pick them up sometimes but always feel a bit shame faced. I read an analysis that suggested for every box that reached someone who might otherwise be in period poverty the cost was
around £14/box.

@NotFastButFurious
Loads of workplaces have them as well, but I’ve got one friend who works in medical research and their work and thinking of removing them as no one ever takes them and another friend who works for a big bank and they’ve built a whole new office complex /campus and are also thinking of removing them as no one takes them there either.

Loads of coffee shops stock them too, even the tiny little coffee shop in my tiny town has free products in the bathroom. Starbucks and McDonald’s and all the other little places in the towns around me have them. You really can see them everywhere.

@Garlicdoughball i was just looking on the council website as to where they’re stocked and it’s basically libraries, schools and the sports centres. They have containers for products in the toilets but surely that’s just for if you need one there and then, not meant to help yourself to supplies for a week? And most of the time they’re empty anyway! Feels a bit like a box ticking exercise to me!

Big light as in the ceiling light? We do say that.

I think council buildings have them. I've worked in schools which certainly have them for staff as well as in the primary school toilets for any girls that start young.

I can't get by without the word 'outwith'. It's so useful.

Have you never watched Peter Kay?!?

In Glasgow a scheme is a housing estate. Also a close is the lobby/ communal indoor bit in a block of flats. And a flat is called a house. And multiple houses are "housies"

I’ve never heard anyone say “big light” over the age of 5.

And the choice is dreadful - at my library anyway!

I'm American, but I have lived in Scotland (but not in England). I'm sticking my neck out a bit here as this will be a huge generalization, but I think that Scotland has a stronger collective sense (than the US and also England, for that matter) of the social contract and that means a greater acceptance that government policy should be central to addressing social issues. That acceptance also often translates into willingness to sacrifice a measure of individual interests for the greater good of society.

I'm liking the rain one

👏👏👏

No, it’s what we call white pudding.

Unfortunately not just the West Coast, I'm in the East and we definitely get the Orange marches here. They need to get in the bin, its a disgrace in this day and age.

We got 2 little cubes of the food of the Gods with our bill after lunch today- chichi cafe in Glasgow's West End, so even the hipster places love it.

No.

But do they sell square slice???

Fortunately religious bigotry isn't prevelant Ne Scotland.

Definitely say big light. Everyone I know says big light if they're Scottish.

I’ve managed to get it in a delivery (but not in store) from Morrisons in the Midlands.

I'm public sector and they're in my work

Pit oan the big light. Remember Peter kay speaking about the big light, I'd say its a uk thing. 😁

In my area (Fife) anyone can order them online, including mooncups and washable pads.

They always had huge displays in colleges where girls could help themselves.

I don't know how they distribute them in schools.

In public buildings (community centre, hospital) I've only seen boxes with a few pads in and you wouldn't be expected to take any home. I've not seen any available at the council leisure centre or my GP surgery.