Figure 1.--These boys attend a stat primary school. The unifim was a grey jumper, grey shorts, grey socks, nd leather shoes. The children chose their own jackets and coats when the weather got cold. The boy at the right wear a bright orange amorack, a light water resistant jaket that could be folded up and easily carried.

How the children looked when coming to school depended a good deal on the type of school. Regulations on the traveling uniform varied from school to school.

State Schools

State primary schools included both schools with uniform and without uniforms. Most state secindary schools had uniforms. The schools with uniforms often had regulations about how the children should be dressed when goming and going to school. The state primary school uniforms tended to e very basic. These were variously enforced. Schools without uniforms were much less demanding about how the children came to school. Most state secindary schools had uniforms. The uniforms were similar, but generally less elaborte than those at private secondary schools like the public schools.

Private Schools

Most private schools wanted to put their best face forward and had definite rules on how the boys should be dressed in public when coming to school. This they required the boys to come to school in their blazers with their ties properly tied. State primary schools, even those with uniforms, often did not have blazers. Many other schools did have blazers. At some schools boys would come to schools in their blazers, but just wear their jumpers while in class or shirts in the warm weaher. Most schools required the boys to dress up in their blazers when taking school trips or when traveling at the beginning and end of term. Traveling to school for boarders has changed considerably. Many boarders throught the 1950s came to school by train. Parents by the 1960s were more commonly bringing their children to school by the family car. Caps were also required although by the 1980s they had been dropped at many schools.

Created: November 22, 2003
Last updated: 8:58 PM 7/16/2004