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English primary schools generally did not have uniforms until recently. Many of the new primary schools began instituting simple uniforms in the 1960s. Most commonly these were jumpers, grey shorts, and knee socks. Rarely did these schools have blazers, but many required the boys and girls to wear ties. By the time that the new primary schools had been created, the fashion of school caps had begun to go out of style, so caps were usually not worn. The state schools of course serviced families of modest means. As a result the jumpers and kneesocks usually did not have the colored trim identifying the schools. Many boys wore the kneesocks without turn-over-tops and colored bands. The shorts were usually the less expensive style that was not lined. An English HBC contributor who attended a primary during the 1950s recalls that his school did have a uniform with a blue cap and blazer. It was, however, optional, and hardly any one wore it. He has a playground photograph and the only boy in the uniform was David Marsh. He rembers him as a boy from an architypal lower middle class. Some boys wore the cap and not the rest of the uniform, but his memories, unfortunately are vague. Since there were no uniform rules as such, he never paid much attention at the time. He does remember that they were not much incouraged to wear the uniform. The teachers did not give little pep talks about wearing the uniform. Interestingly, he does remember the natty uniforms worn by the boys at a local prep school. The wore brown and yellow caps and blazers. The primary school boys referred to them as the brown and yellow boys. He says, "Coming from a school where dress was free and easy, we were probably impressed by the uniformity." Primary schools appear to have put a much greater emphasis on uniforms in the 1960s and 70s. There was no national uniform. It was a decission up to each school, but many did enforce uniforms. Most often it was a simple uniform of sweaters, short pants, and kneesocks. Expensive blazers were usuallu not required although some were adopted. Uniforms at the primary schools have changed in the 1980s and 90s. Many schools introduced colored jumpers or less expensive sweat shirts. Many of the sweatshirts have the school name or logo and are usually bright colors, quite different than the grey jumpers once universally worn by English primary children. Many schools dropped the requirement that boys wear short pants. Some continue, however, to require shorts during the summer. Others still require shorts for the younger boys.
We have begun to acquire some information on chronological trends in English school uniforms by decade. We do not have many impages of early English primary schools. English state primary schools before World War II did not require uniforms. Many boys wore school caps ans short pants suits, but there was no prescribed uniforms. English primary schools generally did not have uniforms until recently. Many of the new primary schools began instituting simple uniforms in the 1950s and they became more common in the 1960s. Quite a number of schools in the 1970s and 80s had simple uniforms. They were much less elaborate than the state primary schools. Some schools did have blazers, usually the Anglican schools. Many schools required the girkls to wear dresses and the boys short pants. Many schools in the 1990s began adopting seasonal uniforms.
After World War II English state primary schools took two different approaches. Some schools adopted simple uniforms. Checks dresses were common for the girls. Grey jumpers and grey shorts were common for the boys. Other schools like the school pictured here allowed the children to wear their ordinary clothes. Portraits from these schools provide a wonderful time-line of changing children's fashionsin England. I am not sure which approach was the most common. I think the non-uniform approach was more common, but hopefully our British readers will provide some insights here. There was no national policy here or even council policy. Each individual decided on wther to have uniforms and what those uniforms would be.
Most commonly the uniforms adopted at primary schools were jumpers (sweaters), grey shorts, and kneesocks. Expensive blazers were usually not required although some were adopted, but many schools required the boys and girls to wear ties. By the time that the new primary schools had been created, the fashion of school caps had begun to go out of style, so caps were usually not worn. The state schools of course serviced families of modest means. As a result the jumpers and kneesocks usually did not have the colored trim identifying the schools. Many boys wore the kneesocks without turn-over-tops and colored bands. The shorts were usually the less expensive style that was not lined. Uniforms at the primary schools have changed in the 1980s and 90s. Many schools introduced colored jumpers or less expensive sweat shirts. Many of the sweatshirts have the school name or logo and are usually bright colors, quite different than the grey jumpers once universally worn by English primary children. Many schools dropped the requirement that boys wear short pants. Some continue, however, to require shorts during the summer. Others still require shorts for the younger boys.
An English HBC contributor who attended a primary during the 1950s recalls that his school did have a uniform with a blue cap and blazer. It was, however, optional, and hardly any one wore it. He has a playground photograph and the only boy in the uniform was David Marsh. He rembers him as a boy from an architypal lower middle class. Some boys wore the cap and not the rest of the uniform, but his memories, unfortunately are vague. Since there were no uniform rules as such, he never paid much attention at the time. He does remember that they were not much incouraged to wear the uniform. The teachers did not give little pep talks about wearing the uniform. Interestingly, he does remember the natty uniforms worn by the boys at a local prep school. The wore brown and yellow caps and blazers. The primary school boys referred to them as the brown and yellow boys. He says, "Coming from a school where dress was free and easy, we were probably impressed by the uniformity." Primary schools appear to have put a much greater emphasis on uniforms in the 1960s and 70s.
There was no national uniform. It was a decission up to each school. Many schools chose not to adopt uniforms, but quite a number did elect to have uniforms. Thus there was a wide range of schoolwear at Englidh schoolss with many children wearing their regular cloythes and many oither school uniforms. Actually manymothers bouught school uniform-type garments even for schools where no uniforms were adopted. I am not sure what proportion of primary schools chose uniforms and what proportion did not. Ai am also not sure how this has varied over tome nd regionally within England. Hopefully our English readers will provide us some insights.
We notice that at some primary schools wgich did not have uniforms that mothers sent their boys to school in uniform farments anyway. This seems to have been less common for their daughters who went to school in a variety of dresses. We notice this in the 1960s and 70s. We are not sure how common it was. The school portrait here (figure 1) is a goof example of this.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer]
[School sandals]
