School calling children piglets?

[GoToSleepBabyPlease]

Came across this on another thread but felt discussing it there would constitute a derail, so bringing it up here.

On a school website (link below):

'To make table manners fun at Hanford we have devised the ‘Manners Table’, a ranking system of eleven different levels with ‘Piglet’ at the bottom and ‘Royal Guest’ at the top. Each level has a different name to describe the behaviour, for example, a messy eater will be a ‘Panda’ or even ‘Cave Lady’ whereas those girls who have mastered dining rather than merely eating will be a ‘Favourite Auntie’ or ‘Best Granny’. When new girls join they start somewhere in the middle with the aim of working their way up as quickly as possible. If they should become a ‘Royal Guest’ they are allowed to bring their own jam to breakfast. Every Friday after lunch, Miss Morrey reads out the week’s manners rankings. If a girl is moved up then they are given a sweet while others may be warned or some even moved down.

1. Royal Guest (allowed to bring their own jam or other spread and can also move people up and down)
2. Best Granny (allowed to move people up and down in manners)
3. Favourite Aunty
4. Primrose
5. Panda
6. Cat (can go to Tuck Shop on Sunday)
7. Squirrel
8. Hyena
9. Boa Constrictor
10. Cave Lady

10. Piglet'

AIBU to think that referring to children as piglets doesn't exactly model good manners?

hanfordschool.co.uk/wellbeing/manners/

How bizarre is all I can say.

I know a couple people with kids at this school - it’s actually very sweet and Enid Blytony.... but I think they may have to revise that one - Cave Lady I’m totally here for mind you

This is bloody awful

Good grief!

Weird! TBH, if they spend so much time on this, they cant be spending much on actual learning 🤣 its also very divisive. A child with dyspraxia may never get above ‘piglet’ level!

Weird. I'd have concerns about the school and the terrible titles would be the very least of them.

I think it's great a school encourages table manners, and I wish more did it...... but not like that!

At our school, there was a for a to have lunch at top table with various heads of department etc. We didn't like it, but was good for us and helped them get to know their pupils

It's not referring to some as piglets that amazes me, it's the whole thing about a league table of manners! Is this the 1940s?

Calling my child a piglet would be the least of my concerns in comparison to the whole system they have going on regarding table manners.
Also how do the staff have time to police this?
Ridiculous system, they should all be aiming for good table manners and by about October half term in reception when all the children have settled and are used to dining in a hall with lots of other people, I would expect them all to have the basics of good table manners and if not then to maybe address that if necessary with the individual children.

I'd be more pissed off (or should that be 'pissed orfff?) about being expected to serve the arseholes that find it such fun to chase after foxes and watch them being ripped apart by dogs whilst the commoners go and beat up sabs go drag hunting.

As a lifelong messy eater due to dyspraxia (age 40 and still can’t hold cutlery correctly) I guess I’m doomed to cave lady or even piglet.

Also I feel upset for actual piglets !! I’d far rather be a piglet (one allowed to live a full life) than anything royal. Awful awful stereotyping at every level.

Was that by any chance sen on the website last Thursday?

The biggest issue might be for Jewish or Muslim pupils?
(Would it? Or would it not be a problem?)

Wtf - Royal Guest ?
Who also gets to decide who moves up and down?

@alibongo5

It's not referring to some as piglets that amazes me, it's the whole thing about a league table of manners! Is this the 1940s?

There's a lot I find objectionable about the system- for one thing, allowing the higher levels to demote the lower would give plenty of opportunity for bullying, I'd have thought- but the OP was already rather long!

I think it's good to encourage table manners but this is ridiculous. My son with ASD was such a messy eater he would never have got beyond being a piglet.

I can’t believe this is something a school would do in 2021!

Bizarre! Really also don’t like children being rewarded with sweets either.

@MargaretThursday

Was that by any chance sen on the website last Thursday?

It's still on the site. No idea when it was posted- can't see a date.

Honestly I think Piglet is one of the better descriptions on the list. I dont like the idea of Best Granny, Favourite Aunty etc. I take it this is an all girls private school?

This is fucking nuts. I feel really uncomfortable for those poor girls whose 'royal guest' peers can demote them to 'piglets'. Just a horrible idea.

‘ On weekdays the daily routine starts with wake up in the morning by the the matrons. Everyone must check they have everything ready for the school day and that the dormitories are tidy. Girls’ beds are checked before they can go downstairs and, when they are dressed and ready, the matron will send them down to breakfast. After breakfast the girls will go to Chapel and then straight off to lessons afterwards.
There are five lessons in the morning with a break in the middle, during which there is the opportunity for a drink and a snack.’

FIVE lessons in the morning?! Ugh 🤦🏼‍♀️

God that's weird. Also, tier 1 and 2 being able to change other kids rankings is a bit much surely?

Hanford is committed to equal treatment for all, regardless of the applicant’s skin colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religion, area of residence or socioeconomic group
The school will discuss with the prospective parents about any possible adjustments which can be made to ensure that the school can cater adequately for their daughter. However, the school has limited facilities for the disabled, but will do all that is reasonable to meet its responsibilities as outlined in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act, 2001

Doesn’t sound like a very inclusive school! No equal treatment if you’re disabled.