*** English school uniform: types of secondary schools








English School Uniform: Types of Secondary Schools


Figure 1.--England did not begin opening state secondary schools until after World War I in the 1920s. This image has no informtion associated with it, but the boys are obviously on a field trip in the 1920s. Perhaps our readers will recognizing where they are visiting. We believe they are students at one of the new Central Schools, the first form of English state secondary schools.

The Public school has continued over centuries a the primary private secondary school, although early schools accepted younger boys. Public schools and grammar schools date from the 16th century. Some of the pubkic schools have impressive reputations. The grammar schools maintained high standards and became part of what wa known as the trimpartar=te system (grammar schools, secondary modern, and technical schools). State secondary schools are a much more recent phenomenon. At first children not attending private schools stayed in primary schools for what would become secondary education. The state secondary schools which did not appear until the end of World War I. State seondary schools have varied in type and philosophy as a sucession of English Governments wrestled with the issues of efficency and privlige. State ennvolvement in secondary education began with Fisher Act (1918). Some new schools were created, but much of the effort involved grants to grammar schools or cinverting some primary schools to secondary schools. A much more importantvstep was the Education Act (1944) at the end of World War II. The Act created th Tripartite System establish a three tier secondary system. This included selective grammar schools, secindary modern and secondary technival schools. Sclectivity was eventually abandined with the creation of comprhensives (1970s). Most English secondary schools are today comprehensives.

Public Schools

The American and increasingly the modern British reader is acustomed to associating school uniform with exclusive public schools. In fact the first English school uniforms were introduced by charity schools like the hospital or blue coat schools. The boys at the public (private) schools wore their individual clothes. Many would choose outlandish styles. To end this and to discorage such attention to fashion, uniforms were gradually introduced in the 19th Century and were widely accepte by the late 19th Century. The uniforms worn were extrodinarily elaborate and included outfits for many different occasisons and sports events. Minor differences were established and enforced rigorously to show one's status. Junior boys could in some schools, for example, had to close all their jacket button. Boys at another school showed the status by the width and color of he ribbon on their straw boaters. Junior boys at many schools wore knickers or after World War I (1914-18) short trousers. Eton School played a major role in establishing Public Scgool uniforms and he Eton collar was widely worn for years. Beginning in the 1920s it was mostly replaced with Blazers and soft collars. The uniform at the moden school has been greatly simplified, but most schools continue to require the boys wears blazers or suits.

Grammar Schools

England's academically selective secondary-level grammar schools sougth to emulate the ethos of the public schools. While they were not boarding schools, they did try to follow the academic trends and emphasis on sport at the public schools. For the same reason, many grammar schools put considerable emphasis on uniform, but for financial reasons, many of the boys could not afford the rather substntial outlays involved in the miriad of public school uniform items. Grammar school boys in the 1940s and 50s commonly wore caps and blazers. The younger boys at many grammar schools also wore short trousers. Some schools required it. At other schools it was the parents choice.

Central Schools or Secondary Schools

There were no state secondary schools in England before World War I. The Fisher Education Act of 1918 made secondary education compulsory up to age 14 years. And the act authorized the government to assume responsibility for the first time to create free secondary schools. As a result othe act, many primary schools with older children and endowed grammar schools having trouble meeting expenses sought to obtain state funding. These new secondary schools which were variously called central schools or secondary schools. Most children continued to attend primary schools until age 14 years instead of switching to a separate new school. This was in part because of a reluctance to change nd in part because there was not a secondary school nearby. Thee were other provisions to the Fusher Act, including compulsory part-time education for 14- to 18-year-olds. There were also plans to expand tertiary education, by increasing participation age to 18 years. This was not implemented because of cuts in public spending as a result of the massive debt resulting from World War I. The secondary provision of th Fisher Act were not immediately implmented also because of budget problems. An Act in 1921 finally brought the Fisher Act into effect.

Secondary Modern Schools

The secondary modern schools came out of World War II. It was a type of secondary school in England as well as Wales and Northern Ireland. The secondary moderns began as part of the Tripartate System. Secondary modern were designed for the majority of pupils between age 11 and 15 years. Those who achieved the highest scores in the 11-plus were allowed to go to a selective grammar school which offered education beyond age 15 years leading to university entrance. Many secondary modern schools put considerable emphasis on uniform, but this varied from school to school. Probbly not as great as the grammar schools. The secondary modern schools did not seek to recreate public schools like the grammar schools with the same intensity. However, you can not make generalizations here. Much of the uniform rules and the enforcement of those rules were up to the individual headmaster. Also, the public in the years before the 1960s expected secondary school boys to wear smart uniforms. So even schools in rough areas had very stringent uniform requirements. The Secondary Moderns were mostly phased out with the introduction of Comprehensive Education (1970s). This began when the government issued Circular 10/65 and 10/68. Secretary moderns still exist in Northern Ireland, where they are normally called Secondary Schools. Some still operate in England. Secondary Moderns in Buckinghamshire are called community schools). In Lincolnshire, Wirral Medway, and Kent they are called high schools. Children in these areas still si the 11-plus exam. [Weale, Sally (8 September 2016). "Kent children sit 11-plus as government plans new grammar schools". Guardian. Guardian Newspaper. Retrieved 8 September 2016.]

Secondary Technical School

A secondary technical school was a type of English secondary school that was estanlished under the Tripartite System (mid-20th century). Contrary to the originalmplan, few were ever built. Thus it was more of a theoretical concept. The Butler Education Act of 1944 envisioned a three tier secondary education system. The grammar schools wee to be selective schools fir the nost academically capavle children. The secondary moderns were for the bulkmof the children. Secondary Technical Schools were to teach mechanical, scientific and engineering skills to prepare hildren for industry and science.

Comprehensive Schools

Comprehensive schools did not begin to appear until thevlate 1960s or early 1970s. By this time school uniform was declining in popularity. Many of the schools gave no attention to it or did away with it all together. Other comprehensives continued the uniform inherited from the secondary modern or grammar schools they replaced. Many comprehensises today have a uniform of black blazer, tie, white shirt, and black or grey trousers.







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Created: January 8, 2002
Last updated: 7:32 AM 1/14/2009