Figure 1.--The boys at this English school wore their ordinary school uniforms in the afternoon after classes. This included the ties. Note the grey shirts. Here tgey are enjoying an electronic game which at the time was a novelty.

State primary schools, even those with uniforms, often did not have blazers. Many other schools did have blazers. Boys at many schools wore just their jumpers and not their blazers during the school day. Here regulations varied from school to school. Many prep schools had the boys put away their blazers. Secondary schools were more likely to leave it up to the individual boy. During the warm summer term boys just would wear their shirts with or without ties. At many schools wearing the jumper or not was up to the individual boy. There were more commonly rules about the blazer. Many schools required ties, but some did not require them during the warm summer term. Again regulations varied from school to school. Most boarding schools had the boys wear the regular school uniform after classes in the evening. At some boarding schools the children could change out of their uniforms after classes, but this was not the most common convention. Most schools had boys wear a jumper, tie, shirt, grey shorts, grey kneesocks, and shoes or sandals, but there were many variations. One popular variation was a corduroy uniform with a lumber-jacket and cord shorts.

Uniform Trends

Most schools had boys wear a jumper, tie, shirt, grey shorts, grey kneesocks, and shoes or sandals, but there were many variations. One popular variation was a corduroy uniform with a lumber-jacket and cord shorts.

Types of Schools

State primary schools, even those with uniforms, often did not have blazers. Many other schools did have blazers. Boys at many schools wore just their jumpers and not their blazers during the school day.

Individual Choice

Even at schools with uniforms, there was considerable choice left up to the individual boy. Here regulations varied from school to school. Many chools, especially state schools did mnot have a regulation concerning overcoats and heavy winter jackets. Many prep schools had the boys put away their blazers. This was the common practtice at boarding schools. At day schools the boys commonly hung up their nblazers, but some wore them during the day unless there were regulations addressing this. There were normally regulations about items like shirts, ties, trousers, socks, and shoes. What was left up the individual boy was the jumper or sweater. At many schools, some boys wear their jumpretrs and others do not. You also see sleeveless and sleeved sweaters. Other variations permitted is that sometimes plain frey sweaters were allowed in addition to sweater in the school trim or color. Some schools also permitted boys to wear plain grey kneesocks rather than the kneesocks with the school trim on the turn-over top. Secondary schools were more likely to leave it up to the individual boy weather he wore the blazer at school. The boy could also decided on the sweater.

Classess

Uniform regulations in the classroom varied from school to school. With only a few exceptions, the same uniform was worn for virtually all classes. The most common attire in English classrooms is a jumper (sweater), tie, grey or white long-sleeved shirt, grey short or grey/black long trousers, ankle or kneesocks, and shoes or sandals. Variations affected these items. Some schools did not require ties in classess or at least during the summer. Grey shirts were common, but some schools had white shirts even as the classroom uniform. Jumpers were normally left up to the boy. There was normally a school rule about short and long trousers, usually based on afe or form. There was also normally a regulation about the socks. Some schools shidted from kneesocks to short socks during the summer. Footwear varied. Some schools selected shoes or sandals. The modt common choices were black oxfords or brown school ("t" steap) sandals. Others left it up to the individual. While this was the normal classroom uniform , protective smocks or other grar was worn for some classess. There were also classess in which the children would dress up for special ptrojrcts or presentations. One example is a class project on a historical event like World War II evacuations.

Morning Break

The hard work of morning classes are releaved by morning break. Norally this is about a 30 minute period after the fitst two morning classes. It is often a frentic period of activity. The children are free to divert themselves. Most of the boys play games. Cricket batting with a tennis or other soft ball is popular, but there are many other games. Other boys have a quiet chat with friends on a host of vafried topics. Normally the children just wear their normal school clothes.

After Classess

After classes boys at day schools went home. Many changed out of their school uniforms. Others did not bother to do so. At boarding schools there were a wide variety of approaches. Here regulations again varied from school to school. Each school had their own regulations and they varied regukarly from school to school. Most boarding schools had the boys wear the regular school uniform after classes in the evening. This was the case with the boys at the school seen here (figure 1). At some schools the boys were allowed to take offvc their ties after classes, but at many schools like the schools here, the boys continued wearing their ties. This included free time activities as well as prep after dinner. At other boarding schools the children could change out of their uniforms after classes, but this was not the most common convention. These schools some times had restrictive regulations as to what kind of non-uniform clothes the children could ear, others allowed them to wear whatever they wanted--within reason. A school wear the boys all wore short pants, required the boys to all wear non-uniform shorts. At other schools the boys coukld wear longs or shorts. Some by the 1980s even permitted jeans.

Seasonal Variations

During the warm summer term boys just would wear their shirts with or without ties. At many schools wearing the jumper or not was up to the individual boy. There were more commonly rules about the blazer. Many schools required ties, but some did not require them during the warm summer term.

Created: October 23, 2003
Last updated: 7:33 PM 12/5/2009