Figure 1.--.

I find it interesting to compare my preferences as a boy to that of my sons. The uniform at my sons’ school was qualitatively the same as mine – dark grey trousers, blazer (basically black, with coloured edges), white shirt, and so on. They were allowed to wear shorts in the Pre-Prep and prep departments, i.e. up to age 11. Both did so, both summer and (mostly) winter, as did some of their contemporaries. PE kit was somewhat different to mine. At home, they never had the same objection that I did to anything that fitted tight over the ears, and so wore T-shirts most of the time. Shorts in the summer and jeans in the winter were their general preference: these days they only wear shorts in particularly hot weather.

School Uniform

The uniform at my sons’ school was qualitatively the same as mine – dark grey trousers, blazer (basically black, with coloured edges), white shirt, and so on. They were allowed to wear shorts in the Pre-Prep and prep departments, i.e. up to age 11. Both did so, both summer and (mostly) winter, as did some of their contemporaries. We ensured they had the choice. Winter coats were required to be plain and dark-coloured: this usually meant some sort of anorak. The general school policy on uniform was to keep the children looking, well, uniform, but not to worry too much about styles as long as these were not too outrageous. The girls’ uniform was the same as the boys’, except that they wore grey skirts rather than trousers, with black socks or tights. White socks were permissible but were generally only worn by prep-age girls. Throughout the time my sons were there, some girls wore ankle socks with bare legs all year round.

PE Kit

PE kit was somewhat different to mine. While they only had one pair of (black) PE shorts and one (reversible, so double-thickness) football shirt, they had two pairs of trainers, both (“basically white”), one for indoors, the other for outdoors. Coloured football socks for outdoors and white socks for indoors completed the kit. I am not aware of them ever doing PE either shirtless or barefoot. So far as I know, the only children who did regularly go barefoot were the Trampoline Club, of which neither of my sons was a member.

Home Clothes

At home, they never had the same objection that I did to anything that fitted tight over the ears, and so wore T-shirts most of the time. Shorts in the summer and jeans in the winter were their general preference: these days they only wear shorts in particularly hot weather. Both are liable to remove their shirts if they reckon it’s too hot, and around they house they (and I) are usually barefoot. For some years they have worn shoes and socks outside all year round: they rarely, if ever, wear sandals. For warmth they wear hoodies, fleeces or the like. Outdoor coats are mostly left over from school or otherwise similar. We’ve always tried to let them choose what they want to wear, with very light guidance. I’ve never dared to enquire what they think our policy has been!

David