English School Uniforms: Personal Experiences during the 1990s--Richie

I would like to say what an excellent site you have. If I may I would like to tell my boyhood clothing stories. I grew up in the south-east of England and went to prep-school until 13 years old in 1995. The uniform was very strictly enforced and distinctive, even though it was a small school. We wore white shirt and tie, red/blue striped blazer and cap, short dark grey trousers and grey socks with garters. I liked the uniform until I went to upper school year 7 and 8 and then hated having to wear school shorts even though we all had to. The kids from the local comp would name call and wind you up on the way to and from school and this became a chore. There were no other local schools where the boys had to wear shorts so we were easy targets. Thinking back (which is only 8 years ago) it seems ludicrous that we were picked on because of our school trousers. I have a couple of memories of when went to New Zealand as a 16 year old exchange student in 1998 and though school shorts were part of my college (secondary school) uniform no-one batted an eye-lid.

Location

I grew up in the south-east of England.

School

I went to prep-school until 13 years old in 1995. Prep schools for HBC's non-English readers are private schools preparing chldren about age 8-13 for entry into the public schools (private seondary scools). They used to be mostly single gender boarding schools, butmany are now coed and boarding isnot as important as it used to be.

Our Uniform

The uniform was very strictly enforced and distinctive, even though it was a small school. We wore white shirt and tie, red/blue striped blazer and cap, short dark grey short trousers and grey socks with garters. I liked the uniform until I went to upper school year 7 and 8 and then hated having to wear school shorts even though we all had to. All the boys at our prep school wore the same uniform the only difference was with year 8 boys we white shirts the boys in other years wore blue. Shorts and cap were compulsory throughout. As younger boys we didn't give much thought to the unifrm. We only talked about our uniform really when we were in our last 2 years--mainly the embarrasment of wearing shorts especially when not at school.

Kitting Out

When i was 13 years old, I was quite tall for my age as were some of the other boys. I remember going into year 8 in 1994 and getting kitted out for the new school year. My mum bought the uniform and in the outfitters I remember the assistant asking if I required the longer length grey shorts (Bermudas). I did get them. I thought them a distinct improvement than the shorter style trousers.

Other Prep Schools

We did meet other boys from other prep schools when we had rugby and hockey matches. There were some differences especially the issue of short trousers. Most other schools allowed boys to wear longs in year 8 (13yrs). I think I remember only two other schools where boys wore shorts until the last year.

Local State Schools

The kids from the local comp would name call and wind you up on the way to and from school and this became a chore. The local comp school kids would wind us up - names like sissy and shortie were common. There were no other local schools where the boys had to wear shorts so we were easy targets. Thinking back (which is only 8 years ago) it seems ludicrous that we were picked on because of our school trousers.

Parents

I discssed the issue of wearing a cap and short trousers with parents but all they would say was that rules had to obeyed and my father had to wear a similar uniform when he was younger.

Home Clothes

At home I would wear jeans and t-shirt etc on weekends. But during the week I would sometimes stay in uniform as I would go to my friends house and stay there until my parents picked me up. By the1990s, when you are 13 and wearing shorts you want to get out of them as soon as possible. Worst was Thursdays when we would go to my grandmas on an evening or into town straight from school wearing uniform.

New Zealand

I have a couple of memories of when went to New Zealand as a 16 year old exchange student in 1998 and though school shorts were part of my college (secondary school) uniform no-one batted an eye-lid.






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Created: October 12, 2002
Last updated: October 21, 2002