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Children wore 19th century styles into the early-20th century (1900s-10s). There were important changes in school styles after World War I (1920s). Long stockings unlike contnental Europe generally disappared in Britain. They lasted a lttle longer for girls than boys. Many chldren adopted standard school garments. Alhough the schools did not have uniforms, many children wore the standard garments worn at prep schools. Important items became caps (until the 1960s), ties, grey shirts, sweaters, grey short pants, knee socks, and school sandals. The sweaters at first were modtly plain grey sweaters. The peaked caps were iconic. The style was adopted by the Cub Scouts (1910s). After World War II we begin to see brightly coloed and patterned sweaters (1970s) We at first see rather baggy, long short pants, commnly done in fannel. The British term was short trousers. Ww begin to see mmre trim fitting Continenal-style shorts (1960s). These were not items mandated by the schools, they were simply garments that were commonly worn by the children and that mothers saw as suitable for schools. Herre we aee a primary school (1970s). schhool from the Girls mostly wore bsasic dresses, white socks, and strap shoes or school sandals. We do begin to see uniforms worn at primary schools (1970s). It was seen as a discipline factor and a way of reducing the socio-economic differences among the children. More schools adopted uniforms in he late-20h century, but this was still a minority of schools. This was all done at the indiviual school by school basis, there were no national standards.
Children wore 19th century styles into the early-20th century (1900s-10s).
The peaked school cap style was adopted by the Cub Scouts for the brugfht green Cub cap. (1910s).
There were important changes in school styles after World War I (1920s). Long stockings unlike contnental Europe generally disappared in Britain. They lasted a lttle longer for girls than boys. Many chldren adopted standard school garments. Alhough the schools did not have uniforms, many children wore the standard garments worn at prep schools. Important items became caps (until the 1960s), ties, grey shirts, sweaters, grey short pants, knee socks, and school sandals. The sweaters at first were modtly plain grey sweaters. The peaked caps were iconic.
World War II erupted (September 1939). This meant that Briyain was at war during the first half of the decade (1939-1945). We know a great deal about school wear because so many school children were evacuated from the cities because of the fear of German bombing (September 1939). The bombing began (July1940) leading to the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. There is a huge photographic record of the evacuation. Some children were away from hime for theentire war. There were several phases of the evacuation as some of the the many children tended to come home when the danger. This occurred after the Blitz (1940-41) when most of the Luftwaffe was move east gor the invasion f the Soviet Union and the Osdtkrieg (1941-45). The children had to be evacuated again when the V-weapon attachs began (1944).
In the pre-1970s period, most children attending Council Schools came to chool in what was deemed 'School Clothes'. A few schools began adopting bsic unifords (1960s). This varied from school to school Afyter the War it became less common to scome to Council Schools in suits or blazers. This vasiedfrom scgooln on school. We begin to see brightly colored and patterned sweaters, alhough pli greyswaters were the nst commn (1970s). This uually was V-nck swaters and the boys still commonly wore ties. e at first see rather baggy, long short pants, commnly done in fannel. The British term was short trousers. We begin to see mmre trim fitting Continenal-style shorts (1960s). These were not items mandated by the schools, they were simply garments that were commonly worn by the children and that mothers saw as suitable for schools.
Some Council schools by 1970s had adopted uniforms. It was seen as a discipline factor and a way of reducing the socio-economic differences among the children. In some cases this included a blazer, however, most schools settled for a blue or grey jumper (sweater), grey or white shirt, and tie. Int he 1960s most boys were wearing short pants and knee socks. By the 1970s we see an invreasing number of boys wearing long pants. Many Council schools accepted that their children wore clothes that would stand up to the general day to day school life and might last out a term or two without looking too scruffy. When it came to the class photo the teachers could arrange their children by their choice, amost always separated the boys and girls. There was often a row of boys in the front for modesty, then a couple of rows of girls and at top row of boys. Arranging by size to neaten up the group was often one task, those in rather worn clothes could be put at the back. Some of the teachers in some schools seemed to have a competition between themselves as to how may of their children that decided to wear wellingtons during the school day, they could get on the front row. Or if there was a single child in wellingtons if the could get them in the centre of the picture. In later yeas all would become embarrassed over their school photos. From the 1970s onwards more schools set a single uniform design for that school, and what their children were to wear indoors. The need for the teacher to arrange their group now became much less. Here we aee an unidentofied 1970s primary school (figure 1). Girls mostly wore basic dresses pr blousesand skirts, white socks, and strap shoes or school sandals. Dresses were far more common than bluses and skirts.
More schools adopted uniforms in he late-20h century, but this was still a minority of schools. This was all done at the individual school by school basis, there were no national standards.
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]
