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Boys at public schools and prep schools continued wearing the styles set in the late-19th century boys commonly wore peaked caps and Eton collars. Blazers were still mostly sports war. Knickers began to decline in popularity and were replaced by knee pants and long stockings. By the 1910s the short pants and kneesocks introduced by Lord Baden Powell's nasent Boy Scout movement had begun to make inroads at prep schools. State prinmary schools still did not require uniforms. State secondary schools, many of which required fees, did require uniforms, but tended to follow the styles popular at the prestigious public schools. The British school uniform as we now know it became widely worn in the 1920s as soft collars and ties replaced Eton collars. These basic styles have been little changed since the 1920s. The styles were primarily set at the prestigious public schools and followed at state schools. Primary schools did not require uniforms, but clothing styles were strongly affected by hat was being worn at Public and prepartory schools. Boys at state primary schools began wearing the closed-toe sandals to school that had become popular after World War I. State secondary schools were still relatively limited until after World War I. Many of the schools that did exist began requiring uniforms, usually following styles adopted at the public schools. The British school uniform as we now know it became widely worn in the 1920s as soft collars and ties replaced Eton collars. These basic styles have been little changed since the 1920s. The styles were primarily set at the prestigious public schools and followed at state schools. Primary schools did not require uniforms, but clothing styles were strongly affected by hat was being worn at Public and prepartory schools. Boys at state primary schools began wearing the closed-toe sandals to school that had become popular after World War I. State secondary schools were still relatively limited until after World War I. Many of the schools that did exist began requiring uniforms, usually following styles adopted at the public schools. While the styles adopted by schools in the 1920s continue to be worn in the late 20th century, there have been some changes. The peaked caps once so common virtually disappeared. The school sandals once worn with a narrow center strap now mostly have wide straps and look more like shoes. The major change was in the trousers worn by boys. The baggy shorts still common in the 1950s had by the 1970s become much shorter and trim fitting. While secondary schools generally dropped requirements that boys wear shorts, they were still widely worn in preparatory and primary schools. Many of these schools in the 1980s, however, dropped the short pants requirement intirely or at least for older boys. Short pants by the 1990s much less commonly worn, but there are still some schools that continue to require them for the younger boys. The shorts that are worn by the mid-1990s had become longer. One destinctive characteristic of the 1970s was the long hair that was popular.
Boys at public schools and prep schools continued wearing the styles set in the late-19th century boys commonly wore peaked caps and Eton collars. Blazers were still mostly sports war. Knickers began to decline in popularity and were replaced by knee pants and long stockings. By the 1910s the short pants and kneesocks introduced by Lord Baden Powell's nasent Boy Scout movement had begun to make inroads at prep schools. State prinmary schools still did not require uniforms. State secondary schools, many of which required fees, did require uniforms, but tended to follow the styles popular at the prestigious public schools.
The British school uniform as we now know it became widely worn in the 1920s as soft collars and ties replaced Eton collars. These basic styles have been little changed since the 1920s. The styles were primarily set at the prestigious public schools and followed at state schools. Primary schools did not require uniforms, but clothing styles were strongly affected by hat was being worn at Public and prepartory schools. Boys at state primary schools began wearing the closed-toe sandals to school that had become popular after World War I. State secondary schools were still relatively limited until after World War I. Many of the schools that did exist began requiring uniforms, usually following styles adopted at the public schools.
School uniforms after the war continued to follow the styles set in the 1920s. This continued through the 1940s and 50s. As part of the social reforms following World War II (1939-45), there wwas a significant expansion of state secondary education. Significant changes in uniforms, however, did not take place until the 1960s. Caps had become very unpopular with boys and were largely dropped in the 1960s, except at traditional preparatory schools. Many secondary schools also began droping requirements that the junior boys wear short trousers. A major reorganization of elementary schools also followed the War. Many new primary schools adopted school uniform requirements in the 1960s. The uniforms were much simpler than worn at preparatory schools, but often included short trousers. School sandals were common at both state schools and preparatory schools.
While the styles adopted by schools in the 1920s continue to be worn in the late 20th century, there have been some changes. The peaked caps once so common virtually disappeared. The school sandals once worn with a narrow center strap now mostly have wide straps and look more like shoes. The major change was in the trousers worn by boys. The baggy shorts still common in the 1950s had by the 1970s become much shorter and trim fitting. While secondary schools generally dropped requirements that boys wear shorts, they were still widely worn in preparatory and primary schools. Many of these schools in the 1980s, however, dropped the short pants requirement intirely or at least for older boys. Short pants by the 1990s much less commonly worn, but there are still some schools that continue to require them for the younger boys. The shorts that are worn by the mid-1990s had become longer. One destinctive characteristivc of the 1970s was the long hair that was popular.
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