Figure 1.--Most prep schools have blazers. This school had a red blazer with black tripes. Blazers are, however, not as important as they once were. Boys did not wear their blazers during the day at many boarding schools. At day schools the boys did sometimes wear their blazers, normally on an optional basis.

Almost all British prep schools require the children to wear uniforms. These uniforms have varied widely from school and over time. The uniforms range in formality and at many schools are adjusted seasonally. Many schools require the children, boys and girls, to wear neck ties, but quite a number of schools are now more casual about uniforms and use open collars. Some times this is part of the seasonal change. Caps were once almost universal, but are now worn at only a few schools. Many schools have colorful blazers, bit they are usually not worn for classes and other activities. Some schools have corduroy uniforms. School scandals were once very common, but now not as widely worn. Parents are provided a Clothing List at the beginning of the school year from which to outfit their child. These lists can vary substantially from school to school. An ongoing problem is the need to mark uniform items.

Uniform Policy

School attitudes toward uniforms have changed over time. Most prep schools havein the 20th century required uniforms. There was a status in attending prep and public schools. Thus the uniforms, especially prep school uniforms, were often colorful and destinctive. They were also often quite elaborate with long clothing lists. Schools attitudes hve changed reflecting the more egaltarian society that has developed in Britain since World War II. Schools now strss that their uniforms or simple, even plain, and inexpensive.

School Uniform Descriptions

Here we have brief descriptions of the school uniform at a number of representative schools. Most schools describe the unifirm as simple, but the full clothing list can be quite extensive. Scgools varies as to what other atributes they stress, but common decriptors are inexpensive, comfortable, and smart.
Clothing Lists

Here we will load some representative clothing lists gto provide the full gammit of uniform items. Here there are both reqquired and optional items. The optional items are normally associated with sports.

Garments

Here we have a range of references to specific school uniform garments.

School Rules

The schools have a range of rules about how and when the uniform was worn. These varied widely from school to school. Most allowed the boys to wear a casual uniform at school, in somes cases without ties. They might be required to wear blazers, caps, and ties when coming to school. Their might be a formal uniform with white shirts for church and special occassions. Some schools allowed the children to change out of their uniforms after classes and games for play. More commonly the childre wore their uniforms all the time whle at school. Here some schools had jumpsuits to protect their uniforms while playing. There were often setting out when and where shoes, sneakers and sandals were worn.

Marking

... and (dare I say it yet again!) it must all be marked, securely marked and clearly marked with the owner's name. You would not believe the amount of time we spend in a term seeking claomants of unmarked garments! And the situation dteriorates when no one claoms ownership. It is a fallacy to believe a child will recognize his own. He just doesn't! I still have seven watches in the Study that belong to no one -- somehave been with me for five years and I cannot afford batteries for them all! I've heard of the expression "throw away watches" but I wish children would throw them somewhere else!

"Harecroft Hall Newsletter," Decemnber 1988.

Used Clothing

Some boys have brothers in school. They can hand down uniform items to younger brothers. Some boys don't like this idea, but usually thrifty mothers prevail in such circumstances. Most schools have some sort of used clothing shop. It is sometimes run by mothers rather than the school staff. The priceeds of course go to the school. Some of the shops also offer new items at reduced rates. It can be especially useful for items lke blazers which are relatively expensive. Now that blazers are not worn as commonly sat shools, frequently they are not worn out by the time they are outgrown.

Loops

I would like to emphasize once again the importance of having secure loops on games wear, outdoor coats, blazers and woolen jerseys. Only in this way can we expect children to hang these items properly, and of course if they are not hung up it is remarkable how quickly they find their way to the floor. Further, if games clothes are not hung up they may sometimes be stuffed wet into games bags, which is even less desirable.

"Harecroft Hall Newsletter," December 1988.

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