Figure 1.--The boys at this school in 1897 wear a variety of suits, but all boys wear the school cap. Such caps were commonly worn by virtually all English school boys. The most popular style appears to be a Norfolk suit with an Eton collar. The caps all have piping, some are worn with badges.

Modern school uniform has in many ways been a British creation. The first uniforms were implemented in the 16th century for charity children at the famed hospital schools. Eventually more modern styles emerged in the 19th century, but at the country's elite private schools. School uniform garments like peaked caps, boaterrs, and blazers emerged at this time. The British school uniform as we now know it became widely worn in the 1920s as soft collars and ties replaced Eton collars. These basic styles have been little changed since the 1920s. There have, however, been some changes. The peaked caps once so common are now little worn. The school sandals once worn with a narrow center strap now mostly have wide straps and look more like shoes. The major change has been in the trousers worn by boys. Short pants once so common are in the 1990s much less commonly worn, but there are still some schools that continue to require them for the younger boys. Available information on school uniform trends is as follows. HBC has rather limited information on many decades and would of course appreciate any interesting information that our English readers may have to fill in the blanks.

Celtic Britain

We have no information indicating that Celtic Britons had any formal schools.

Roman Britain

Romans did have schools. Almost surely after the Roman conquest, schools would have been created in urban centers. We have no information, however, about any information that archeologists have found about Roman schools in Britain. Hopefully one of our readers will know of some archeological finds, but we do not at this time.

Dark Ages

After the Roman Legions were withdrawn from Rome in the early 5th century AD, Roman society was overwealmed by native Britons and Anglo-Saxon invaders. The only institution which survived was the Church. As far as we know, for centuries the only schools in Briton were Church schools. Children were educated in Song Schools at important monestaries and cathedrals which helped prepare them for a life in the Church.

The 13th Century

An early reference we have noted to actual schoolwear deals choirboys at Benedictine monestaries. The boys reportedly wore a light blacl cassock during study periods. The boys provided the treble voices for the sung Massess held in monastic chappels. Along with the music training, the boys received a basic education. Earlier these boys were trained as part of their preparation for a life in the Church. I am not sure that this was true by the 13th centuiry. Some of these boys may have persued secular careers with the education they acquired. We are unsure as to the age of the boys that attended these Church schools. Boys at British choirs today generally a voice change at about age 13. This occurred later in Medcieval Europe. There must have been boys still singlr treble parts at age 15 and oerhsps some boys as old as 17 to 18. I am unsure, however, if these older boys continued in the choir schools.

The 16th Century

Modern school uniform has in many ways been a British creation. The first uniforms were implemented in the 16th century for charity children at the famed hospital schools. While charity schools emerged, there were no publically financed schools for boys. Schools were fee paying private schools. Many of Englands famed public schools emerged at this time. They were public in the sence that enrollment was open to the public, at least the public that could afford the fees. Boys from really wealthy families, especially aristocratic boys were schooled at home. There were no uniforms required at the public schools.

The 17th Century

Little changed in the 17th century. The charity hospital schools continued to require uniforms while the private schools, including the public schools, did not. Styles did change only in line with overall fashion trends in society.

The 18th Century

Little changed in the 17th century. The charity hospital schools continued to require uniforms while the private schools, including the public schools, did not. Styles did change only in line with overall fashion trends in society. School boys like their fathers wore knee breeches through most of the 18th century. There were major developments in children's fashions during the 18th century. After mid-18th century, specialized childrens styles emerged for the first time. These specialized styles like skeleton suits were mostly for boys.

The 19th Century

Eventually more modern styles emerged in the 19th century, but at the country's elite private schools. Eton boys by the early par of the century were wearing long pants suits with short jackets, long pants, and what was to become known as Eton collars. This style proved to be enormously popular at the country's public (private) schools, although each school had their own differences. Most public schools, however, did not require uniforms. Actually many parents refused to send their children to the public schools and educated them at home. Gradually the outrageous and in many cases dangerous situation at these schools forced the schools to introduce a variety of reforms to control student behavior. One of the reforms was to require standardized uniforms which until the 19th century had been a feature only at charity schools. School uniform garments like peaked caps, boaterrs, and blazers emerged at the the public schools. Especially after mid-century as part of the educational reforms sweeping the public schools, preparatory schools for the younger boys began to proliferate. Many younger boys, however, continued to be educated at home or attend dame schools where uniforms were not required. Even more imortantly, England began to develop a pubically financed state school system. While lagging behind several countries on the continent there was a great expansion of schools for the average English boy during this period. A wide variety of schools were opened, including ragged schools, board schools, national schools and several others. Only by the late 19th century did educational reforms began creating a national system of state schools out of the variety of schools that had been created. Uniforms were not required at these elementary schools. State financed secondary schools were a rarity throughout the 19th century.

Figure 2.--English boys for much of the 20th century wore short pants and kneesocks. Many of the first form boys at this grammar school in 1961 wore short pants and kneesocks even though there was no school rule.

The 20th Century

The British school uniform as we now know it became widely worn in the 1920s as soft collars and ties replaced Eton collars. These basic styles have been little changed since the 1920s. The styles were primarily set at the prestigious public schools and followed at state schools. Primary schools did not require uniforms, but clothing styles were strongly affected by hat was being worn at Public and prepartory schools. State secondary schools were still relatively limited until after World War I. Many of the schools that did exist began requiring uniforms, usually following styles adopted at the public schools. While the styles adopted by schools in the 1920s continue to be worn today, there have been some changes. The peaked caps once so common are now little worn. The school sandals once worn with a narrow center strap now mostly have wide straps and look more like shoes. The major change has been in the trousers worn by boys. Short pants once so common are in the 1990s much less commonly worn, but there are still some schools that continue to require them for the younger boys.

The 21st Century

Little information is available yet on 21st century trends, but HBC will be watching closely to try to find any emerging new trends. Most English secondary schools and some primary continue to require school uniforms although the subject is increaingly being debated. Many primary schools have increasingly casual uniforms. Even prep schools have adopted the more casual styles. One teacher reports in 2000 that in the school that he works it has been interesting to note that there has been a slight rise in the number of older students wearing grey shorts during the summer. Ties have been replaced by the more casual use of school emblem sweatshirts and traditional black school shoes are slowly being replaced by black trainers. Baseball caps are increasingly worn as a safeguard from the dangers of the sun. Almost every pupil now wears white socks where as not so long ago boys would object, considering them girlish! The now popular survey provide a very accurate picture of what English boys are wearing to school. Some question school uniforms, but they remain very common.

Personal Accounts

HBC has acquired a wide range of personal accounts contributed by our readers as well as other sources. Most of course are from the 20th century. These readers describe the uniforms and clothes that they wore as schoolboys. We also are searching for literary notes

Related Links: Careful this will exit you from the Boys' Historical Clothing web site, but both sites are highly recommended

Apertures Press New Zealand book: New book on New Zealand schools available
Boys' Preparatory Schools: Lovely photographic essay of British preparatory schools with some over 200 color and black and white photographs depicting the schools during the 1980s
School Uniform Web SiteInformative review of British school uniforms with some excellent photographs

Created: November 11, 1999
Last updated: March 10, 2004