Hogwarts

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a fictional school of magic that is the main setting of the Harry Potter series of novels.

Related Topics:
Magic - Harry Potter

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Hogwarts appears to be the only school of magical arts in Britain, training people with magical abilities to become fully qualified witches and wizards. Its status is not discussed in great detail in the Harry Potter novels, but it is known to be a co-educational secondary boarding school taking children from ages 11 to 18. Examinations are taken at the end of the fifth and seventh years. The number of students at the school is not specified in the books, although creator JK Rowling has suggested that there is an annual intake of about 280 students comprising most, but not necessarily all, of the magical children living in Britain's hidden wizarding community.

Related Topics:
Magical arts - Britain - People with magical abilities - Co-educational - Secondary - Boarding school

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There are only two other school of magic mentioned by name in the Harry Potter novels: one, Beauxbatons, may be located in France while the other, Durmstrang, is based at an unspecified location elsewhere in Europe. It is also possible to study magic by distance learning, a method used by at least one member of the ancillary staff at Hogwarts.

Related Topics:
Beauxbatons - France - Durmstrang - Europe - Distance learning - One member

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Management of the school is undertaken by the Headmaster/Headmistress. He/she is assisted by a deputy headmaster/headmistress and Heads of Houses who are picked from the faculty and given special authority to discipline students in the Houses they lead. The Headteacher is answerable to Hogwart's highest authority, the 12 member Board of Governors. Hogwarts appears to retain a high degree of independence both from the Ministry of Magic, the chief civilian government authority, and from the Department for Education and Skills, which as a Muggle body has no jurisdiction over magical matters.

Related Topics:
Ministry of Magic - Department for Education and Skills - Muggle

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It is unclear how Hogwarts is funded, or what its fee structure is. In the sixth book in the series a special fund for books or equipment for needy students is mentioned.

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The current headmistress of Hogwarts is Professor Minerva McGonagall. She took this position in an acting capacity after her long-serving predecessor Albus Dumbledore died in combat with invading followers of the evil Voldemort on the battlements of the castle.

Related Topics:
Minerva McGonagall - Albus Dumbledore - Died - In combat - Followers - Voldemort

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[[Image:Hogwarts.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hogwarts Castle, as it appears in the Harry Potter films

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