My Secondary Modern School was fairly close to the Grammar School. So as not to confuse Americans. A grammar school in England is a academically selective secondary school, not a promary school. My form went to the Grammar for some science lessons and French, I suppose, because their facilities were better than the Modern school. Although we shared some aspects of school with Grammar boys we rarely socialised, but nor can I remember any particular animosity between us.

The Grammar Uniform

A bit of a memory jerker this but as I best remember; the Grammar School wore a black blazer with school badge, grey shirts (older boys, prefects perhaps could wear white) yellow and black striped tie, pullovers trimmed round the collar with school colours of black and yellow and, grey long stockings with turn- over-tops trimmed with black and yellow rings. The Grammar School was stricter than mine regarding uniform, if my memory serves me right. Boys could be punished for incorrect uniform or appearing untidy.

Junior Grammar Boys

All the first and second year Grammar boys had to wear shorts, which is why we were required to follow suit (I think) but like us, they were allowed long in the third year. A vague memory is that they could wear longs at 14+ or, strangely when over a certain height, but I'm not sure about that. Like us, the large majority seemed to have longs after the second year, but yes I think a number, like Kenneth in our form, remained in shorts for some time after. At a guess, they would be from the better off, financially, families with parents perhaps aping the private school sector.

The Headmaster

I "saw" rather than met the Grammar Headmaster. He was just remote figure to me. He wore a black gown, which made me think he was very cleaver, but "snooty." Don't ask me why.

Coeducation

Again, for reasons I cannot understand, the Grammar was mixed. The 1960s was an era of considerable educational change in England. Perhaps this was part of it. Many schools, especially state schools were going coeducational.

Occasionally my form would combine with the girls school equivalent of my M form when we had classes in the Grammar; French class being an example. I, and I think most of my pals, did not like sharing classes with girls, as I suppose it made you feel more awkward than you already felt. However, I cannot recall any of these girls teasing us about our short pants, indeed the boy I mentioned previously, who often wore ankle socks in summer, seemed a favourite with them. His name was John Dodds. He had fairly long hair for those days. Some guys have all the luck.

Created: April 20, 1999
Last updated: March 10, 1999