Figure 1.--Boys and girls at most coed schools generally wore the same sweaters. At this school the girls had blue pullovers and cardugans rather than the grey pullovers the boys wore.

British public schools were initially boys' schools as were the first preparatory schools. Gradually girls' schools became an increasingly important sector of the independent education sector. After World war II, many boys schools shifted to coeducation. There is now a strong girls element in the British independent schools sector. The Girls Schools Association, for instance, has a large number of schools up and down the country. Uniforms for the girls have been stronly influenced by the uniforms at boys schools. Items like sweaters, ties, and blazers are worn by both boys and girls. With very few exceptions, however, British schools have ins=isted that girls wear dresses and skirts rather than shorts and trousers. Here there tends to be far more difference in the Summer and Winter attire of girls than boys. Quite often the only difference between Summer and Winter for boys is ankle socks and short sleeved shirts, but the girls go from skirts, pullovers & knee length socks or tights, to Summer dresses, white ankle socks and sandals.

E-Mail:

---

Navigate the British Preparatory Schools E-Book
[Contributions] [FAQs] [Organization] [Photography] [Reader Input] [Questions]
[Return to the Main uniform table of contents page]
[Return to the British Preparatory Schools Home Page]