
A new film taking a look at the very private world of British public schools is causing a stir in certain circles. But while The Riot Club, starring Douglas Booth and Sam Claflin, depicts a dark side to life as a privileged student a charming photography book has also been released documenting a more innocent time at some of the nation's finest learning establishments.

In the late 1980s photographer Mark Draisey was given access to document the British public school system.

Gaining an inside view of this usually closed and private world allowed him to produce a stunning record of life inside institutions that were, as a rule, out of bounds to the majority of the population.

First look: A new book called Thirty Years On: A Private View of Public Schools has documented life behind closed doors at some of the nation's finest learning establishments. This snap shows the 1st XI cricketers and 1st VIII oarsmen at Radley sporting discrete plain white blazers with only an embroidered magenta badge linking them to their sport

His work saw him cover the whole of the United Kingdom, resulting in the 25 schools photographed over a five year period from 1985. The archive forms the world's largest collection taken by an individual on this subject and are now of historic interest.

The evocative collection - bought together for upcoming book Thirty Years On! A private view of public schools - is a unique insight into the life within twenty-five of Britain's leading boy's public schools just before they changed forever.

Rituals: Here, at Fettes boys can be seen performing a 'bar'. Once a common ritual before bed, but also traditionally used to celebrate a match victory against Loretto School. It involves rolling over the horizontal bars that framed the doorway into each dormitory cubicle where the boys slept

Tradition: In the late 1980s, photographer Mark Draisey was given privileged access to document the British public school system that was, as a rule, out of bounds to the majority of the population. His work saw him cover the whole of the United Kingdom, resulting in the 25 schools photographed over a five year period from 1985. Here, boys at Marlborough, where the Duchess of Cambridge attended, walk their hounds

Dinner is served: A scene reminiscent of that of Hogwarts from Harry Potter is conveyed in this image, which shows lunch in the dining hall at Radley where boys still wear their gowns

Al fresco lessons: During fair weather some masters choose to move their classes outside. With the largest school campus in Britain, it is not difficult to find a quiet corner at Christ's Hospital

Chilling out: Mark's images were taken at a time just prior to major changes in the boarding house conditions and the general modernisation of facilities at many of the schools, brought about by a more competitive market, plus the introduction of girls into these once male dominated institutions like at Marlborough College, pictured, which is no co-educational

Top class: The British public school system prides itself on the high standards of education, and also for producing leaders in the fields of politics, science, economics, sport and the arts. One such school is Harrow, pictured, where students can be seen calling the register, known as 'Bill', which takes place in each house daily. However, on Speech Day, it is a more ceremonial occasion where the whole school files passed the Head Master and Head Boy, raising their hats as their name is read out. For this day only, boys are allowed to wear buttonholes and fancy waistcoats of their choosing with their Sunday dress

Fun and games: At Haileybury, an end of term high jinx can be seen, as boys are dunked in a cold bath, traditionally carried out on birthdays. Speaking about his work, Mark said: 'I am delighted to at last announce the publication of a collection of colour photographs I took at 25 of our great public schools back in the late 1980s forming the world's largest such study,'

Mark's images were taken at a time just prior to major changes in the boarding house conditions and the general modernisation of facilities at many of the schools, brought about by a more competitive market, plus the introduction of girls into these once male dominated institutions.

Images of austere dormitories and bleak bathrooms, beagling on the moors and Sunday chapel, cadet training and early morning rowing, will remind thousands of times when tradition and eccentricity mingled with educational excellence to produce generations of boys destined to succeed.

The British public school system prides itself on the high standards of education, and also for producing leaders in the fields of politics, science, economics, sport and the arts.

Over the course of centuries, public schools have accumulated a bewildering array of quirky traditions. With the possible exception of the church, no institutions so fervently hold onto their rituals, customs and costumes as the public schools, be it the Tudor uniforms of Christ's Hospital and the straw hats of Harrow, or the Eton Wall Game and Wincoll football. This, combined with often magnificent buildings set in the most beautiful of British countryside, means that they are remarkably visually interesting.

Mark said: 'I am delighted to at last announce the publication of a collection of colour photographs I took at 25 of our great public schools back in the late 1980s forming the world's largest such study. I was generously granted unrivalled access to each of the schools to photograph the everyday life, traditions and games that make the independent school system so unique.

'Now, some thirty years later, the images depict a bygone time having been taken just before a universal movement to improve boarding accommodation, sports and teaching facilities at the majority of independent schools.'

Mark Draisey was born in 1962 and grew up in South West London attending schools in both the private and state system. His fascination for British public schools began whilst he was studying illustration and photography at Brighton Polytechnic, and began this project in his final year as part of his degree. He now works as a successful illustrator and caricaturist for all aspects of the media from his home in Bath.

Country pursuits: Another long-standing tradition is the Royal Shrewsbury School Hunt which has little to do with blood sports. It is, in fact, the oldest cross country club in the world, with records dating back as far as 1831. The sport was formerly referred to at many schools as 'hare and hounds'. The hare being the captain who ran ahead leaving a paper trail for the hounds to follow. At Shrewsbury, the Captain is the Huntsman and is assisted by a Senior and Junior Whip. Traditionally, the Huntsman starts a race by calling out

Gladrags: King's Week is a festival of drama and the arts, held at the end of the King's summer term. It culminates in Commemoration or 'Commem' Day on the final day of term when the Sixth Form leavers wear traditional court dress of white tie and tails, with breeches and black stockings. Monitors also wear their gowns and can carry walking canes, or 'swagger sticks'

Floral fancy: At Eton, rowers, or wet bobs, in their traditional Stand Naval uniforms worn for the procession of boats on the Fourth of June

Athletes in training: The rackets court, a forerunner to squash, is unique at Haileybury because of its double viewing gallery

Touch up: Over the course of centuries, public schools have accumulated a bewildering array of quirky traditions. This image shows a hive of activity in the theatre dressing room in preparation for a house play at Shrewsbury School

Seeing stripes: Cricket at Loretto is taken very seriously, producing an elite team who train all year round

Marks work saw him cover the whole of the United Kingdom, resulting in the 25 schools photographed, like Christ's Hospital, where boys can be seen relaxing on a summer afternoon in 'Half Housey' dress

Row your boat: Shrewsbury Regatta takes place as part of the Speech Day celebrations in the Summer term. The Royal Shrewsbury School Boat Club is the envy on many rowing schools because of its facilities and close proximity to the school

Quirky attire: This snap shows the Oppidan Wall, or team, who play against College in the St. Andrew's Day Wall Game. The Eton Wall Game has been played here since at least 1766 and is unique to the school as it can only be played alongside the brick wall on College Field. Its rules are numerous and complex and are really only ever understood by those who play it

Cosy: At Marlborough, boys start off in dormitories, then progress into shared rooms, as here in Turner House, before advancing to a room to themselves by the time they reach the Sixth form

Rise and shine: At Sherbourne, morning ablutions take place in Abbey House

Kit: At Rugby school, 1st XI cricketers are unique in wearing duck-egg blue shirts instead of the standard white ones. It used to be the case, that all cricket teams wore different colours before the end of the 19th century