Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, often shortened to Hogwarts, was the British wizarding school located in the Scottish Highlands. Founded in the 10th century, Hogwarts was regarded as one of the finest institutions of magic in the wizarding world, alongside other notable schools including Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, the Durmstrang Institute and Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, among others collectively forming the eleven long-established and prestigious wizarding schools worldwide. Any magical children residing in Great Britain or Ireland who had reached the age of eleven by the start of the incoming term were accepted as students. They were registered by the Quill of Acceptance and Book of Admittance when they first displayed magical ability,and their acceptance was confirmed by owl post at age eleven. However, if the child in question was Muggle-born or raised by Muggles, like Harry Potter, with no knowledge of the wizarding world, a special messenger from the school visited the child and his or her family to inform them of their magical heritage and the existence of the wizarding world.It was also possible for students to transfer to the school. Hogwarts School, located somewhere in the Highlands of Scotland, consisted of the large Hogwarts Castle and extensive school grounds surrounding it, which included sloping lawns, flowerbeds, vegetable patches, as well as a loch (called the Black Lake), a large dense forest (called the Forbidden Forest), several greenhouses and other outbuildings, and a full-size Quidditch Pitch. One of the castle's towers held an owlery, which housed all the owls owned by the school and by students. Core Subjects (Years 1–5)Transfiguration: The art of altering the form or appearance of an object.Teachers: Professor Albus Dumbledore and Professor Minerva McGonagall.Charms: Learning to cast spells that add properties to objects or people.Teacher: Professor Filius Flitwick.Potions: The brewing and study of magical mixtures, typically taught in the dungeons.Teachers: Professor Severus Snape and Professor Horace Slughorn.History of Magic: The study of wizarding history, famously taught by the only ghost at Hogwarts.Teacher: Professor Cuthbert Binns.Herbology: The study of magical and mundane plants and fungi.Teacher: Professor Pomona Sprout.Defence Against the Dark Arts (DADA): Learning to protect oneself against dark creatures and curses.