by John Nettell (1941)
In 1941, as far as I remember, fee-payers all started in 2A and scholarship boys in Remove. Why it was called Remove I do not know. I only remember being told “it is traditional” which was no answer.
Both classes numbered about 30 boys so there must have been about as many of one as the other. There was no 1A or 1B because School Cert was done to a four year programme and you had to finish up (if successful) in year 5 in the Sixth Form.
After Remove one was put into the next year’s A or B form depending on your results, no social selection, The bright ones went to the next year’s A and the others went to B. And we didn’t have cap parades, or monthly merit order to determine one’s seat in class, I think I’m glad I left before Fred Lay really got into his stride! I think there was also in 1941 a Form 5C, known as Shell.