Figure 1.-- Here is a view of my prep school a few years after I left. The uniform rules changed slightly with prefects allowed to wear long trousers.

As I was so unhappy at the local state secondary school, my parents moved me to a prep school. There were both day nd boarding students, but I attended as a day student. Prep schools commonly offer classes for boys from about 8-13 years of age. As I was 12 going on 13, I was placed in the last year upper form. Just as with Shane, after years of wearing long trousers to school, I was back in shorts year round. I can’t say that I minded as I wore shorts at home nearly all the time and only wore trousers for school or playing out in the Winter. My uniform was more formal than his as I had trutex type grey shorts, blue shirt (sleeves rolled up in Summer), two tone blue and silver tie with the school crest on, grey v neck jumper with two blue lines around the v and grey knee length socks with two blue bands (these had to be worn with elastic garters to keep them from slipping down) and polished black shoes. What I did not like was having to get the bus each day and being one of only a couple of boys (all attending my school) wearing shorts when all the others going to other schools, including juniors, were in longs. The late 70s and early 80s were the height of very short and tight fitting shorts and I was self conscious about wearing them walking to and from the bus stops and on the bus as people, especially other children would stare, at least they appeared to be staring. The PE kit was exactly the same except it was a different rugby top with light and dark blue quarters and plain dark blue socks. I wish I had attended the school earlier as I really enjoyed it there and had some good friends and teachers. A couple of the boys went to the same senior school as me. I did not board very often and when I did it was usually when my father was away on detachment. It wasn’t the greatest experience but being able to stay with my friends and have others to play with was really good.

Location

We were living in Darlington at the time and my parents found a prep school there for me that accepted day students. It was Hurworth House located on the south side of Darlington.

Age

As I was so unhappy at the local state secondary school, my parents moved me to a prep school. There were both day nd boarding students, but I attended as a day student. Prep schools commonly offer classes for boys from about 8-13 years of age. As I was 12 going on 13, I was placed in the last year upper form.

School Uniform

Just as with Shane, after years of wearing long trousers to school, I was back in shorts year round. I can’t say that I minded as I wore shorts at home nearly all the time and only wore trousers for school or playing out in the Winter. My uniform was more formal than his as I had trutex type grey shorts, grey shirt (sleeves rolled up in Summer), two tone blue and silver tie with the school crest on, grey v neck jumper with two blue lines around the v and grey knee length socks with two blue bands (these had to be worn with elastic garters to keep them from slipping down) and polished black shoes. I only had regular school shorts as we bought them in town. My Mother was very particular that I looked smart and that I wore the same as everyone else. I also had a blazer but that was supplied by the school because I was only going to be there a year unlike my first one this one was made of wool and was light grey. The uniform became a bit more informal after I left as you can see in the image here (figure 1). We had jumpers with piping and we wore our ties during the school day. I'm not sure why the school changed from grey to blue shorts.

Placement

Prep schools generally have a more advanced academic program than the state system with some schools having selective entry based on ability and others permitting all to join. Most are more geared to brighter, more able students although they tend to accept pupils right across the board as well. Hurworth had a relatively high academic record and teachers expected a strong work ethic but was not selective. The classes were more intensive than at my comprehensive in Darlington; some were harder, others easier but the pace of work was faster. There was a lot less messing about and silly interruptions and the classes were a lot smaller, sometimes only in single figures compared to sometimes over thirty which meant much more attention from the teachers. I was classed as gifted and placed in the top classes for most subjects. My prep school was fairly typical and I would say it had very thorough academic expectations. It was a very academic school, but was not academically selective--taking in boys with a wide range of abilities would be a better way of describing the place.

Some parents choose independent education because their children require extra help that the smaller classes, closer attention, more traditional methods and higher standards and sometimes better trained (though often not trained as teachers) staff. Independent schools do not have to employ graduates or trained teachers and are free to employ people solely on their ability to do a good job and achieve results. (Most are graduates). This can be an advantage as the staff have often done other things than just been in the education system.

In years gone by some Prep schools had poor reputations for the education provided but there are few of these schools still in existence as parents vote with their wallets. Most now have very rigorous academic targets and also place expectations to take part in sports, arts and other activities rather than just formal school work. There are some schools who specialise in dyslexic pupils or those underperforming. These specialist schools should not be mistaken for State Special Schools which are for children with either physical or mental handicaps. Integration is a big thing in the State system but there are still many special schools about.

Bus

What I did not like was having to get the bus each day and being one of only a couple of boys (all attending my school) wearing shorts when all the others going to other schools, including juniors, were in longs. The late 70s and early 80s were the height of very short and tight fitting shorts and I was self conscious about wearing them walking to and from the bus stops and on the bus as people, especially other children would stare, at least they appeared to be staring. It would have been worse if I was the only one but as all the boys at the school wore shorts it was not a totally unsual sight around the town to see us about. At least no caps, only the younger boys had to wear them and were optional for everyone else.

PE

The PE kit was exactly the same except it was a different rugby top with light and dark blue quarters and plain dark blue socks. PE and Games was a lot more enjoyable too as although the same rules about underwear, showering and not forgetting your kit were in place there were no threats of girls kit. One funny episode was when we went to a big sports field and park for cross country and when we arrived the pavilion used for changing was locked so we all had to strip off and get changed into our kit outside. We weren’t sure if the teachers were joking at first but needs must. It was really funny because we were all looking out in case any passers by came by (none did) and everyone back at school thought we must have all been really brave. Heros for a couple of hours! It was open when we finished so had access to the showers and could change back in privacy.

Swimming Pool

It was no big thing for us really as we always undressed outside by the pool at the school and usually swam with nothing on except when doing competitive swimming when trunks had to be worn. It was a surprise for me on my first swimming lesson when we all went to the pool and everyone just started getting undressed and leaving their uniforms on the grass; of course I just followed suit. I had my trunks with me in my towel as swimming was on the timetable but when the other boys just lined up along the edge and weren’t wearing theirs I did not want to be different so just joined them. I did not know it then but this was a very common practice in boys prep and some senior independent schools. I always loved swimming but not having any trunks on was way better in my opinion. So much for the tales of dead Shane had told me about his first senior school. I still never found out whether he was telling the truth or not. I can’t remember whether anything was said about my trunks not needing drying when I went home, probably just said I didn’t need them, if anything, or my mother already knew the score; more likely.

Atmosphere

I wish I had attended the school earlier as I really enjoyed it there and had some good friends and teachers. A couple of the boys went to the same senior school as me.

Boarding

I could have boarded here at Hurworth from when I left Eastbourne School but I was not terribly keen on boarding and the school offered a compromise with my being a day boy and occasionally boarding for a couple of weeks or so at a time. So I did not board very often and when I did it was usually when my father was away on detachment. It wasn’t the greatest experience but being able to stay with my friends and have others to play with was really good. We got up about 7am and had to go to the bathroom for a shower and to get washed before returning to the dorm to get dressed in our uniforms, make our beds, tidy up and then wait to be called to breakfast. After breakfast we brushed our teeth, collected our bags and went into school. The senior boys dorm (we were all 12 going on 13) had eight beds but there were only 5 full-time boarders in it plus me and another boy who sometimes stayed. Very basic with two rows of beds each with a small bedside table and a shared wardrobe. There was a chair at the end of each bed where we put our clothes. After school we would stay in uniform until time to get get ready for bed. On a night we did not have showers but a strip wash which meant we used a flannel and soap stood next to the sinks before brushing our teeth and combing our hair. Twice a week was bath night which was always very noisy as the three baths were side by side in the bathroom and we would try to splash each other and throw water about. One of the matrons or duty teachers would tell us off but it was a sort of tradition. I did not like the bedtime there as it was 8pm and I thought that too early and we were not allowed to make any noise at all after we were in bed. There were times when we would all talk or get up and play about but as the punishment for being caught was to stand facing the wall in the corridor for ages we tried to keep quiet.

Created: 6:50 PM 3/28/2007
Last updated: 2:15 AM 3/29/2007