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/

@Bunnybigears

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?

I believe so, yes.

I am assuming any school that allows the pupil to bring their own pony is a private school

It’s a girls’ boarding prep that takes day pupils.

I went to this school! (and ended up a Best Grannie) - it's actually really well done, and yes it is about manners but it's also about thinking of others, asking if they'd like more water, eating tidily to minimise clearing up etc. And it's a small school so it's not hard to do. There is no bullying involved. And it's very, VERY rare that anyone is made a piglet - I was there for 5 years and I think that it happened once (and that girl is fine. And one of my in real life best friends.) I try to teach my own children the same manners that we were taught to have at school (though I don't move them up and down a chart!) DD wants to go here though, so . . .

Also, is this Hanford school in the same place as the infamous Hanford Parish Council? Must be something weird in the water there

@Soontobe60 that could be because some of the buildings are old and can't cater for wheelchairs etc.

Looks ripe for bullying to me.

I guess its entrenching a hierarchical rule driven elitist system...funny that!

They can bring their own jam... that’s not very normal.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

‘Everyone has a set bedtime and must be in bed and quiet fifteen minutes before lights are due to be turned off – this is an excellent time to settle down and read a book, knit or write a letter.’

This can’t be real life 😂

I think you somehow accidentally stumbled into 1942.

Do they encourage unaccompanied camping holidays in caves on Devonshire Islands, investigating foreign spies and eating hard boiled eggs washed down with lashings of ginger beer, too?

No, the council is Handforth (Cheshire)

I don’t like this

Also, regarding the inclusivity for children who are disabled; the school is in a listed Tudor manor house and the classrooms are in the old coach houses and girls have to climb in and out through the windows. However I have no doubt that if someone really wanted to go to the school who couldn't manage that, the school would do all they could to facilitate that.

Boarding schools make me sad.

It gets better!
When it comes to sport for girls it’s about finding the perfect fit. Boys pick up a ball instinctively and, while a lot of girls will too, some may need a bit more direction
Got a shy daughter? The perfect solution.
At various events throughout the year such as: the Carol Service, the Portman Hunt Meet and the Pimpernel Beagles’ visit, we encourage girls to act as hostesses, handing round food and drink. Being given a tray of delicious eats can help even the quietest girl overcome her natural shyness and help her to grow in confidence

@Bluetrews25

No, the council is Handforth (Cheshire)

Ah ok. I'm not British so I saw the name Hanford and went "that looks familiar!".

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@Soontobe60 that could be because some of the buildings are old and can't cater for wheelchairs etc.[/quote]
So they should adapt them - thats what every other school does. What if a pupil became disabled whist there, would they just turf them out? Not all children with disabilities needs a wheelchair.

Handforth and handford are world's apart!

Do they encourage unaccompanied camping holidays in caves on Devonshire Islands, investigating foreign spies and eating hard boiled eggs washed down with lashings of ginger beer, too?

Don't forget the potted meat sandwiches and barley sugar!

I don't like that they're suggesting children are piglets. However table manners seems to be a thing of the past. Plenty of my children's friends came to our house for tea and had no idea how to eat at a dinner table. Using fingers, chewing with their mouth open, no pleases or thank yous. Table manners are important in my opinion

margaret I too assume some kind of April fool thing.

I mean, it's an utterly bizarre thing to do, but despite my best efforts my DC do eat like piglets.

That system has been in place for ages. Definitely not a new addition. Although no personal experience of Hanford, I know many who adore it for its very old fashioned, traditional ways. But I’d imagine it’s one of those things that has just always been and no one has stepped back and looked at it with 21st century glasses.

I always thought that place was creepy as hell (live nearby). It strikes me as some sort of weird finishing school.

It is bizarre, to normal sensible parents. But we know that parents who pay absurd sums of money for these exclusive prep schools aren't paying for better education. They're paying for the social veneer of the privately educated child and the superficial advantages over others that it confers. This is an interesting glimpse behind the scenes at how these schools achieve that. I find it revolting, personally.