Figure 1.--This photograph shows some of the second form boys at the Boston Grammar School in 1955. While the first form boys had to wear short trousers, shorts were optional in the second form. Most boys chose long trousers. This is part of form 2A. Click on the image to see part of form 2B. |
A grammar school was a selective school with six forms. Not all the boys wnt all the way through the sixth form unless hey were headed to the university. The younger boys are in the first form. These boys would have been 11-12 years, having entered the school after doing well on their 11+ exam. The only unifom diffence based upon form level that we note is that the first year boys wore shorts. A few second year boys do also, but this was not required. Form photographs show that very few second year boys availed themselves of the option to continue wearing short trousers. Presumably those that did wear shots in their second year, did so because their parents insisted. Most boys switched to long trousers as soon as they were allowed to do so. They were anxious to dress like the older boys at the school. There may have been a requirement about the caps for the junior boys, but we are not sure about this.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer
[School sandals