Figure 1.--Two of the most common types of footwear were black oxfords and brown school sandals. Some schools had sandals for everday wear and black oxfords for best. A other schools boys had the option to wear either. This was the case as this private school in 1982. Some state primary schools allowed boys to wear smeakers, but sneakers were banned at private schools, except for sports.

Boys in the late 19th and early 20th century commonly wore high-top, heavy boot like shoes. Primary-boys after World War I often wore closed-toe brown "t" strap sandals. These sandals became widely worrn at primaey schools. Sandals were not commonly worn at secondary schools, but through the 1960s we see the younger boys at some schools wearing them. The standard secondary shoe was the black oxford. Regular black oxfords were used for dress wear or by older boys. Another school standard was the plimsol, especially common in gym class. Boys did not begin wearing sneakers (trainers) to school until the 1980s, but many schools did not allow them. Boots became very fashionable in the 1970s and an issue at many schools which banned them.

The 1900s

Boys in the late 19th and early 20th century commonly wore high-top, heavy boot like shoes.

The 1910s

The 1920s

Primary-boys after World War I often wore closed-toe brown "t" strap sandals. These sandals became widely worrn at primaey schools. I am not entirely sure why sandals became so popular in the 1920s for schoolwear. I think that sandals began to be worn in the 1910s and for some reason were adopted for school wear. (This did not occure in America.) Sandals had a couple of advantages. One there were no laces to be tied which was a big advantage for younger children. Akso we suspect that sandals were cheaper than regular schoes.

The 1930s

Another school standard was the plimsol, especially common in gym class.

The 1940s

We are not sure what occurred during the 1940s. Shoes much have become rather different to obtain during the War and immediate post-War years.

The 1950s

The standard secondary shoe was the black oxford. Regular black oxfords were used for dress wear or by older boys.

The 1960s

Sandals were not commonly worn at secondary schools, but through the 1960s we see the younger boys at some schools wearing them. A British reader writes about school footwear in the 1960s, "I don't recall boys wearing sneakers/trainers to primary school when I was there - we always wore always proper shoes or sandals. I never actually saw my primary school uniform list so I don't know if shoes were mentioned but I do recall one or two boys turning up wearing plimpsoles in the Summer and the teachers commenting on it (in a sensitve way because it may have been that their parents were still saving up to buy new shoes). I do recall that on the note home we always had before a school trip or prizegiving event/carol concert that it did say that proper shoes were to be worn (i.e. not sandals) alongside saying that boys had to wear white shirts. I think that I've told you that before. My Mum would agree with that because she never saw sandals as being suitable for "best" although she saw them as alright for school in the Summer and also for play so sandals were a sort of halfway house between "best" wear - shoes, and playwear - plimpsoles." Another reader tells us, "Anyway my point is that when I started at primary school in the early 1960s most boys wore the same type of shoes even if a lot of our other clothes were different. These were Clarks round-toed black lace-up shoes and they were pretty-hard wearing and quite heavy by today's standards. I didn't like them and tried to get Mum to let me wear sandals as much as possible. My brother preferred shoes though. The one item of school clothing that we didn't share were shoes as Mum always bought us new shoes to fit. She liked Clarks because they did width fittings as well as length and they took a lot of time in the shop to make sure that they were a good fit. Later on there were rival shoes that came out - I remember slip on shoes by "Tuff" and my brother wanted some but Mum said the elastic wouldn't last like laces would and she was right because boys who did have them found them slipping off in the playground as the elastic went and eventually the school banned them and insisted on lace-ups. There were also "Wayfarer" shoes that had animal footprints in the soles and a compass in the heel which some boys had. My brother wanted them too mainly because some boys at cubs had got them but Mum said that they were a gimmick and a waste of money and we always stuck with the standard Clarks round-toed school shoes."

The 1970s

Boots became very fashionable in the 1970s and an issue at many schools which banned them. A British reader tells us, "It was when I was at my grmmar (selective secondary) school in the 1970s that additions to the uniform rules had to be made. First it was a verbal announcement by the headmaster at assembly. And next if not heeded by a formal letter home to parents - due to the various fashions that came in and the school found unacceptable even though, formally, they obeyed the written regulations. I have told you how they had to ban boots and then flared trousers by the "hairies" when they got completely out of hand and braces for "skinheads" which they could never have forseen being worn by boys in the 1970s so weren't included in the uniform regulations!"

The 1980s

Boys did not begin wearing sneakers (trainers) to school until the late-1970s or 80s, but many schools did not allow them. A British reader tells us, "I think that it was more in the 1980s that some primary schools relaxed the footwear rules and I recall seeing older boys going off to primary school in the more modern trainers that came out then even though the rest of the uniform was still the same as we had worn (essentially allowing for more modern styles. The colours etc. were the same whereas some of the trainers were black with white stripes and so on and later still boys wore white trainers which would have seen odd to us in the 1960s when boy's shoes and plimpsoles were always black - sandals brown).

The 1990s

A British reader tells us, "Funnily enough many schools reversed that concession when trainers became more expensive in the 1990s and led to rivalry in who had (whose parents could afford!) the latest brands and went back to insisting on proper black shoes while relaxing other rules - sweatshirts and polo shirts instead of ties and blazers/jumpers and so on

The 2000s

A British reader tells us, "Today it is also primary schools who have to try to combat the latest fashions. Many rely on the parents too but some write in new rules the year following some particular fashion that comes out in order to combat them! - I have seen "Plain, flat, black leather shoes (no boots, fashion shoes or trainers)" and "Tailored shorts which should be no longer than just above the knee" in order to combat various fashions that while sticking to the letter of the school uniform rules go against it's spirit. In the end I suppose the schools are facing a losing battle with the fashion industry."