ABSTRACT
The issue of identity and allegiance are probably closely connected, for one's preferred identity is reflected in one's friends, especially for the girls. Pupils were almost always interviewed in small groups. The choice of pupils for a particular group had to reflect those friendship groupings accurately, or sanctions could be applied. Both co-operative and friendship groups seemed to exist for both boys and girls, but, in addition, the girls seemed to develop an extra layer of tightly bonded relationships with one other girl. The girls also experienced pressures from the informal culture. They had anticipated some psychological aggression from older girls, and they found their anxiety justified. As far as interaction between boys and girls goes, pupil attitudes and behaviour changed dramatically with the move to upper school. The most important item, however, was shoes, though teachers soon gave up with the girls.
