Figure 1.--Preparatory schools in the 1980s had a wide variety of uniforms. Some like this school in Yorkshire has casual uniforms. Others had more formal unifirms including blazers and ties. Only a few schools still had caps.

A major development in English education was the introduction of educational was an effort to introduce competition (1988). The idea was that schools would competete with each other and in the process so that they would strive to improve themselves in order to attract pupils or probably more likely parental interest. One of the most important aspect of the reforms as was the introduction of a National Curriculum. This imposed a set curriculum for the first time. This included both the primary and secondary schools which had to follow the national curriculum. This gave the the schools mich less choice as to what subjects they taught. There was now a legal requirement to teach certain subjects. There were also trends in schoolwear. The once ubiquitous school cap for the most part disappeared in the 1980s, although a few mostly prep schools continued the requirement. Clothing a state primary schools varied widely. Many schools did not have uniforms and the children wore comtemporary styled clothing. Quite a number of schools, but a minority, had uniforms. These were largely basic uniforms of sweaters, short pans, and kneesocks. Often there were seasonal variations. These uniforms were especially common at schools with religious association--mostly Anglican and Catholic. Many private primary schools, especially prepartory schools, still maintained traditional uniforms. Many of these schools dropped a requirement for short trousers, especially for the older boys. The shorter cut school shorts which appeard in the 1970s were commonly worn. Many private schools by the 1980s had shifted to coeducation, primary for financial reasons. Many schools required the children to wear ties, although for the most part the blazer was not worn during the school day. Quite a number of schools shifted to more casual open collar uniforms. An interesting book provides a fascination look at prep schools in the 1980s, Boys' Preparatory Schools. Many state schools were now comprehensives, although many school retained their names. While conventions at primary school varied, most secondary schools did have uniforms. State secondary schools mostly had uniforms with black blazers with long pants for boys and skirts for girls. Some girls complained that they could not wear trousers. Private secondary schools were most known as public schools. Most had uniforms, although they were more varied than the standard black blazers so common at state schools.

Education Reform

A major development in English education was the introduction of educational was an effort to introduce competition (1988). The idea was that schools would competete with each other and in the process so that they would strive to improve themselves in order to attract pupils or probably more likely parental interest. One of the most important aspect of the reforms as was the introduction of a National Curriculum. This imposed a set curriculum for the first time. This included both the primary and secondary schools which had to follow the national curriculum. This gave the the schools mich less choice as to what subjects they taught. There was now a legal requirement to teach certain subjects. Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) were developed to determine student success and provide measures for comparing schools. The SATs were administered to test pupils at ages 7, 11, 14 and 16. School aithorities called yhen Key Stages 1 - 4. , Stage 4 is the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams. They are a set of exams administered in taken in England, Wales, Northern Irelandn and other British territories. (Scotland has its own sustem.) Based on the SAT results, league tables were compiled that ranked school performance. Parents could use the league tables to help make informed choices on what schools to chose .

Uniform Trends

There were also rends in schoolwear. The once ubiquitous school cap for the most part disappeared in the 1980s, although a few mostly prep schools continued the requirement. Clothing a state primary schools varied widely. Many schools did not have uniforms and the children wore comtemporary styled clothing. Quite a number of schools, but a minority, had uniforms. These were largely basic uniforms of sweaters, short pans, and kneesocks. Often there were seasonal variations. These uniforms were especially common at schools with religious association--mostly Anglican and Catholic. Many private primary schools, especially prepartory schools, still maintained traditional uniforms. Many of these schools dropped a requirement for short trousers, especially for the older boys. The shorter cut school shorts which appeard in the 1970s were commonly worn. Many private schools by the 1980s had shifted to coeducation, primary for financial reasons. Many schools required the children to wear ties, although for the most part the blazer was not worn during the school day. Quite a number of schools shifted to more casual open collar uniforms. An interesting book provides a fascination look at prep schools in the 1980s, Boys' Preparatory Schools. Many state schools were now comprehensives, although many school retained their names. While conventions at primary school varied, most secondary schools did have uniforms. State secondary schools mostly had uniforms with black blazers with long pants for boys and skirts for girls. Some girls complained that they could not wear trousers. Private secondary schools were most known as public schools. Most had uniforms, although they were more varied than the standard black blazers so common at state schools.

Created: March 24, 2004
Last updated: 4:37 PM 9/13/2021