To some the art of which fork to use or how to drink from a bowl of soup may be long forgotten.
But now Midland students have returned to the traditions of Downton Abbey – when manners ruled and the port was most definitely passed to the left... and whipping your mobile out to check Twitter during luncheon just won’t do.
In a departure from the normal curriculum, pupils and staff at Solihull’s Grace Academy have been taking lessons in etiquette from expert William Hanson.
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The manners guru offered an insight into those little things which could save blushes at those all-important works dinner parties in years to come.
His seminar offered advice on the basics and what to do to avoid that major faux pas which could seriously damage those job prospects.
Mr Hanson who has appeared on BBC Breakfast, ITV This Morning, CNN, and ITV Let’s Do Lunch with Gino & Mel, said two thirds of Britons don’t have a clue what to do at the dinner party table.
He said: “One of the worst etiquette mistakes I have ever seen is people on their mobile phones at dinner parties. This is so rude when you have come to socialise with friends. The other one I heard about was at a seminar held in a bank where one of their graduates was spotted eating peas off the knife. I ended up having to give a seminar on how to eat peas.
“There is a widely held belief that employers are just looking for good academic grades when they come to hiring graduates from schools, academies or universities.
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“While that may be part of the case, what they also look for is good people skills. People do business with people. An employee could have the best set of grades going but be useless at interacting with others. Knowing the politesses and having refined social skills gives the upper edge in business and social situations.”
Mr Hanson’s ‘manners primer’ was an eye-opener for pupils, said Yvonne Perry, Business Partnerships Manager for Grace Academy.
She added: “There is often, even for adults, a sense of mystery around what is expected with regards to table etiquette.
“Our business etiquette lunches for Year 11 students dispel any fears and leave our young adults feeling confident and practised, aware of what they should know and assured that what they don’t, won’t trip them up.
“You wouldn’t believe the difference in a young person, coming in daunted and uncomfortable to finding new friends around the table and standing before strangers to make their toast.”
Mr Hanson, widely regarded as one of the most trusted authorities on etiquette and protocol, has recently published his indispensable manual of modern-day social climbing, The Bluffer’s Guide to Etiquette.
SHOW SOME MANNERS: DOs AND DON'Ts:
Don’t miss
Never say “pleased to meet you” – instead use: “How do you do?”
Upon the meal’s completion, don’t push your plate away, but rather lay your fork and knife diagonally across your plate.
The meal begins when the host places his or her napkin on his lap; this is your cue to do the same.
Do not season your food before you taste it; your fellow diners might suspect you also make hasty business decisions.
Do not slurp your soup, and do not blow on it if it’s too hot to eat.
Don’t use the wrong piece of cutlery – eg a knife isn’t made to eat peas off.
Don’t cut the bread roll in two with a knife and butter it all at once. Rip off small chunks – it’s meant to be an accompaniment to your meal.
When the meal is over, place your napkin on the table to the right of your plate.
Small talk is important, best to stay away from the “big three” topics of religion, sex, and politics.
Don’t break out the mobile phone during social occasions – it suggests you’re more interested in it than your company.