The note providing details will be 'filed' at the bottom of the schoolbag for presentation to parents only on the evening prior to the photo day. This is to ensure maximum stress for the whole family while you try to decide what to wear, find missing items of school uniform and get them all freshly laundered for the photo opportunity. This is because the things you 'need' for the photo will surely be at the bottom of the washing basket.

At 10:00pm on the night before the photo shoot you will probably find that several unspecified blemishes have appeared about the face. It will not be possible to cover them with your hair because they will inevitably be in the middle of the face - very probably around the nose or mouth - and your hair has developed a mind of its own in any case.

At this point panic will inevitably ensue. Boys and girls alike will attempt the toothpaste1 remedy and reach for the nearest spot concealer, but all to no avail.