- " Caveat Smeltonia. Proudest moment of my life."
- — Vernon Dursley on Smeltings[src]
Smeltings Academy, sometimes referred to as Smeltings, was a Muggle public school that Dudley Dursley and Piers Polkiss attended in the 1990s. It was also the alma mater of Dudley's father, Vernon Dursley, who once remarked that he found the portions of food served at the school to be very filling, but his wife disagreed.
Its school motto seems to be Caveat Smeltonia, which is Latin for "let him beware of the things of [the place called] Smelton" or similar, or "Let she of Smelton beware".
During the summer before Harry Potter began to attend Hogwarts, Dudley was set to begin at Smeltings, while the Dursleys intended to send Harry to Stonewall High - the local state school.
Uniform
Dudley Dursley in his Smeltings uniform
The school's uniform consisted of a maroon tailcoat, orange knickerbockers, a straw boater, and a gnarled cane that students used to hit each other with when teachers had their eyes elsewhere. All this whacking with sticks was supposed to be greatly helpful in preparing students for the future.
Location
In 1995, Dudley Dursley is described as the "Junior Heavyweight Inter-School Boxing Champion of the Southeast." Accordingly, it is likely that Smeltings is located somewhere in the region of South East England.
Known students
Known staff
- Nurse
- Joyce Haddock (swimming examiner)
Etymology
Smelting is the process used to produce a metal from its ore. The name may be intended to suggest that its curriculum was centred on industrial skills.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Mentioned only)