Pupils given lessons in modern manners (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Pupils given lessons in modern manners

MODERN manners may, in some people's opinion, leave much to be desired but sixth formers at one Cotswold school have been getting lessons on the finer points of social etiquette.

Students at The Cotswold School in Bourton have been learning about which fork they should be using at a banquet, how to eat a banana correctly and even the most elegant way to tuck into a Cadbury's Crme Egg.

The instruction has been carried out by Rachel Holland, niece of the school's head Ann Holland and an expert on lifestyle skills, who runs her own business teaching schoolchildren such useful skills as interview skills.

Last week Rachel, who normally commands significant fees for her expertise but offers her services free to her aunt's school, visited on the day of the students' Christmas lunch to give them advice on how to conduct themselves when eating.

"When I went to school - I went to a direct grant convent - we were taught such things there," said Mrs Holland, who vehemently denied that the school was being elitist.

"It's the direct opposite of elitism. Society still has codes of behaviour and this is intended to make it more inclusive for people from all walks of life," she said. "The students are very keen."

Mrs Holland added that many of its sixth formers go on to top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, where they will be expected to attend banquets.

"The sixth form have at least two formal dinners a year," she added.

After her lesson, etiquette expert Rachel joined students for their Christmas lunch to see them put her words of wisdom into practice.