Head girl and head boy
Head boy and head girl are roles of prominent student responsibility. The terms are commonly used in the British education system and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth organisations.
United Kingdom and Ireland
In some British schools, the pupil body (or the headteacher) may elect a head boy and/or a head girl from the pupils/students. Head boys and head girls are usually responsible for representing the school at events, and therefore must be able to make public speeches also being a good role-model for students, and sharing pupils' ideas with the schools leadership. He or she may also be expected to lead fellow prefects in their duties. Deputy head boys and girls may also be appointed, taking on the day-to-day management of the prefects in some institutions, as well as looking after the school and creating a link between teachers and pupils.
Other Commonwealth countries
All schools in Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, UAE and Malaysia, and many in the Commonwealth Caribbean, as well as South Africa and Canada, follow the same system as that in the United Kingdom, having a head girl and head boy or head prefect, a vice-head girl/boy, prefects, house captains, monitors and class representatives. (source?) The head girl and boy assist the teachers and administration of the school. Nigerian and Ghanaian schools follow a similar system although some schools appoint a head prefect or senior prefect and assistant senior prefect. Another term used is "Senior Ring" (for boys) and "Senior Pin" (for girls), which is used in some schools such as Aden Bowman Collegiate in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
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. The head boy and head girl are generally the "chair" of this council and will represent the school on a government or community level and will represent the students at the school level.
Equivalent terms
Class or school president is a similar position; these are commonly found in elementary and secondary schools in the United States and Canada and may or may not necessarily be gender-specific.
Notable head boys and girls
- Gethin Anthony, best known for portraying Renly in HBO's Game of Thrones, was head boy at Tiffin School
- Hayley Atwell, best known for appearing as Agent Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger, was head girl at Sion Manning Roman Catholic Girls' School
- Amy Childs, best known for appearing in the reality television soap opera TOWIE, was head girl at Raphael Independent School
- Jenna Coleman, best recognized for her roles as Clara Oswald in the British television series Doctor Who and as Queen Victoria in Victoria, was head girl of Arnold School
- Jo Cox, former English MP, was head girl at Heckmondwike Grammar School
- Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Labour leader, was head girl at Harris Academy
- Harrison Teteka, founder of Code Culture,was headboy at Munali boys secondary school
- Christopher Eccleston, best known for his role as the Ninth Doctor in Doctor Who, was head boy of Joseph Eastham High School, Salford
- Rebecca Hall, English actress, was head girl at Roedean School
- Jeremy Hunt, British politician and Secretary of State for Health, was head boy of Charterhouse School
- Joe Hart, English football goalkeeper for Torino FC, was head boy at Meole Brace School, Shrewsbury
- Kajol, Bollywood actress, was head girl at St Joseph Convent boarding school in Panchgani
- Richie McCaw, captain of the All Blacks, was head prefect (and proxime accessit) at Otago Boys' High School
- J. K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter, was head girl at Wyedean School and College
- Matt Smith, best known for his role as The Doctor in the British television series Doctor Who, was head boy at Northampton School for Boys
- Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, was head girl of Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School
- Leigh-Anne Pinnock, member of Little Mix, was head girl at Sir William Ramsay School
- Claire Balding, award-winning broadcaster, was head girl at Downe House School, Newbury