Head Boy and Head Girl (colloquially, Head Prefect) are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.
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In some British schools the student body (or the headteacher) appoints or elects a pupil or pupils as Head Boy(s) and/or Head Girl(s). A Head Boy/Girl is usually responsible for representing the school at events, and therefore must be able to make public speeches. He/She may also be expected to lead fellow Prefects in his/her duties. Deputy Head Boys/Girls may also be appointed. In this case, the Deputies often take on the day-to-day management of the Prefects in some institutions they also look after the school and create a link between teachers and pupils
Outside of the United Kingdom, many Public schools throughout the Commonwealth, particularly in the Caribbean and Asia, use the term Head Boy or Head Girl. Many other countries instead elect a President or Captain of the student government or Senior Prefect. However, the title continues to be used as title for the elected head of the student government at private schools, as well as maintaining currency throughout New Zealand, where almost every secondary school has a Head Boy and/or Girl
All schools in Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, UAE and Malaysia, and many in the Commonwealth Caribbean, as well as South Africa follow the same system as that in the United Kingdom, having Head Girls and Head Boys, Head Prefect, Vice-Head Girl/Boy, Prefects, House Captains, Monitors and Class Representative. The Head Girl & Boy assist the teachers and administration of the school. Ghanaian schools also follow a similar system although some schools appoint Head Prefect or Senior Prefect and assistant senior prefect.
In Australia, the system is much the same as that of the United Kingdom. Almost all public secondary schools will have a Student Council with each year group having elected representatives. There are rarely any Vice/Deputy Head Boys/Girls with this position being taken up by the Student Councillors. The Student Council is in charge of assisting with the organisation of social events and fund-raising events within schools. In general, they are the main liasing body between the students and staff. The Head Boy and Head Girl are generally the "Chair" of this council and will represent the school on a Government/Community basis and will represent the students on a school basis. They are usually required to present speeches as part of this role, and so should be good at public speaking.
Upper Canada College, a private school in Toronto, and Ridley College, an international, university-preparatory boarding school located in St. Catharines, Ontario, use the title Head Boy differently, applying it to the student who has achieved the highest academic standing in their graduating class, similar, in principle, to the valedictorian at an American high school. What would otherwise be known as a Head of School at an equivalent British institution is known at Upper Canada College as the Head Steward.
The term has become familiar to international readers through the Harry Potter books; Hogwarts School is loosely based on British public schools. The term is also often used in Ireland.