Figure 1.--At this English grammar school, probably in the early 1970s, boys wearing shorts could wear open neck shirts, but boys wearing long trousers had to wear ties.

Many of the specific uniform regulations concerned specific garments. These regulations have varied over time and among schools. Some of the most contentious regulations concerned school caps and trousers. At many prep schools all the boys wore caps. At secondary schools, generally the junior boys wore caps, but this varied over time. Many prep schools and state elementary /primary schools have required short trousers as did some secondary schools--but usually just for the junior boys. Ties could vary substantially and were often used to reflect position in school or some kind of academic or athletic honor. Ties were optional at some schools, after World War II. Some schools allowed boys wearing shorts to wear open necked shorts while boys wearing long trousers had to wear ties. Distinctions in the blazers such as piping or buttons could reflect status at the school. Some schools insisted on very specific colors and brand of school wear while other schools were willing to accept considerable differences in shade and material. While regulations on some garments were very specific, many schools allowed considerable variation in knee socks. Some also allowed some variation in footwear.

School Caps

Many of the specific uniform regulations concerned specific garments. These regulations have varied over time and among schools. Some of the most contentious regulations concerned school caps. and trousers. At many prep schools all the boys wore caps. At secondary schools, generally the junior boys wore caps, but this varied over time. The 1950s were the last decades that cps were common at British schools, although they persisted at private schools a while longer, especially at the preparatory schools.

Neck Ties

Ties are very common at British schools, especially at secondary school s and private schools. Many achools had destinctive, commonly striped ties. Ties could vary substantially and were often used to reflect position in school or some kind of academic or athletic honor. Ties were optional at some schools, after World War II. At a few schools, boys wearing short pants did not have to wear ties, but if they wore ties they had to wear long pants.

Coats

Winters are relatively mild in Britain. Thus warm coats are not as important as in America where winters can be severe. Some schools with uniforms had uniform overcoats. Rain coats were more important. Gaberdine rain coats were common. At some private schools with uniforms there was no required overcoat.

Suits and Blazers

Most secondary schools and private schools had uniforms with suits or blazers. School clothing lists could be very complicated. This began to change with World War I and even more so with World War II. Some private schools had both suits and blazers which were worn on various occasions after World War II his became less common with either suits or blazers being chosen by the school. Distinctions in the blazers such as piping or buttons could reflect status at the school. Boys at day schools were required to wear their their suit jackets and sometimes caps while coming to school and going home. At boarding schools the suits and blazers were often not worn for ordinary daily classes.

Trousers

Trousers, the term for what the Americans call pants, has been an issue at many schools. . Many prep schools and state alimentary schools have required short trousers as did some secondary schools--but usually just for the junior boys. Some schools allowed boys wearing shorts to wear open necked shirts while boys wearing long trousers had to wear ties. Many private schools required the boys to wear short trousers. This was especially the case with the preparatory schools. It was also the case at many state primaries, some of which adopted uniforms. Short trousers were standard for boys into the 1950s, but this began to change (1960s). And we see increasing numbers of boys wearing long trousers by the 1970s. Many schools adopted other uniform regulations. Many secondary schools also required the younger boys to wear short trousers. The rules varied from school to school. It was usually done by age, but height or form was sometimes the ways the rules were structured. Some schools allowed the boys/parents to decide. Only when this option was employed the boys all usually soon began wearing long trousers. Some schools insisted on very specific colors and brand of school wear while other schools were willing to accept considerable differences in shade and material. Purchased from school outfitters there was uniformity, but items like grey shorts and knee socks could be purchase at lower prices in general clothing stores leading to variations in shades.

Hosiery

While regulations on some garments were very specific, many schools allowed considerable variation in knee socks. Private schools requiring shorts commonly school socks with tops dome in the school collars. Some schools had ankle socks worn during the summer, but most schools had knee socks. Thrifty mothers of the brought cheaper knee socks rather than the school socks done with colored tops. Usually the schools did not take issue with this.

Footwear

Some schools also allowed some variation in footwear. The schools commonly required black shoes, but with no requirement as to style. Younger boys might wear sandals, required at some schools. Unlike the shoes, the sandals were usually brown. Here there was some variation. Usually they were single strap sandals. But we sometimes see double strap sandals. We also occasionally see blue sandals.

Created: October 30, 2001
Last updated: 9:35 PM 8/25/2025