Figure 1.--This snapshot which was printed with a postcard back that was postally used in Monmouth, Wales during 1908. It illustrates a private school summer uniform and what middle class boys would have been wearing in the summer of that year. The writing on the back of the card states that the boys were visiting their uncles military camp--which explains the wagon behind them. RFA stands for Royal Field Artillery. Note it is the boys wearing knee pants that have the Eton collars. Image coutesy of the MD collection. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

English school uniforms did not change greatly during the early-20th century. The styles which were widely adopted in the late-19th century continued to be widely worn in the early-20th century. The younger boys at state schools might wear a variety of outfits, including ruffled and lace collars and sailor suits. Younger boys might wear Fauntleroy suits or suits with Fauntleroy styling, especially in the 1900s. The peaked cap was commonly worn at both private and state schools. The basic school uniform at both state and private schools was a suit. At private schools there were commonly uniforms and better cut than the suits boys were wearing at state schools. The boys at private schools might have blazers, but the blazer was still commonly seen as a sports uniform. Boys in the 1900s wore the suits with Eton collars that had become so common in the late 19th century. The Eton collars in the 1900s were still very common. There was, however, no consesus as to neckwear. We see both bows and neckties. The younger boys at state schools might wear a variety of outfits, including ruffled and lace collars and sailor suits. Boys in preparatorry and public schools as well as older boys at state schools usually wore jackets with Eton collars. We still see knickers which were still very common. Boys also wore straight-leg knee pants, especiall younger boys. We don't see short pants yet to any extent. The one major change during the 1900s was that the knickers commonly worn during the late-19th century became less common. Younger boys instead wore knee pants with long stockings. At many public schools, the younger boys wore Eton colars while the older boys wore regular soft collars. The Eton collars were often, but not always worn with ties or other neckwear. The younger boys might wear knee pants and the older boys long pants. Hosiery was mostly long stockings. It is a little difficult to tell, but we don't notice a lot of knee socks. The badges that came to be commonly worn later in the 20th century were still not as common in the 1900s. Some schools had seasonal uniform. The boys seen here, for example, look to be wearing light-weight summer suits (figure 1). The younger boys might wear knee pants and the older boys long pants. Girls wore dresses, often with pinfores.

Changes

Sweeping changes in Englidh education occured after the turn-of-the 20 century. Parliament passed the Balfour Act (1902). It probided for Local Education Authorities taking over state schools. Previously schools were operated by a various groups. Mmany schools had been managed by the Church of England . Other schools were operated by school boards locally formed committees. Now Local Education Authorities would operate the schools. Schools began prioviding meals, very importabnt for poor children (1906). A sstem of medical inspections was intridyced (1907). The Government was previouly involved primarily with primary ediucation. The Balfour Act resulted in the establishing more than the 1,000 new secondary schools in baicallh the following decade, 349 of which were for girls. Until the Bzlfour act, vedry fw girls advancedd beyond the primary level. English school uniforms did not change greatly during the early-20th century. The styles which were widely adopted in the late-19th century continued to be widely worn in the early-20th century.

School Types

There were substantial differencs between types of schools. Many state schools were single gender schools, but we see mixed classes for the younge children and smaller schools. There were no uniforms at state schools. The younger boys at state schools might wear a variety of outfits, including ruffled and lace collars and sailor suits. Younger boys might wear Fauntleroy suits or suits with Fauntleroy styling, especially in the 1900s. The Fauntleroy styling disappeard after the first year or two. State schools provided education to children tp about age 13 years. Most children left school about that time. Mostly middle-class unable to afford a private school might attend a grammar school for secondary education. The grammer schools generally followed the curiculum, methods, and unormtrends of the public schools, but were dy schools. Boys at privte schools mostly wore uniforms. Almost all private schools were single gender schools. In the 19th century we see some small prep schools where the yungerboys did not have unifirms. This was less common by the turn-of-the century.

Garments

We have information on the vsrious garments worn for school in the 1900s. The peaked cap was commonly worn at both private and state schools. It was at private schools, however, tht boys wore caps of the same style and color. The basic school uniform at both state and private schools was a suit. At private schools there were commonly uniforms and better cut than the suits boys were wearing at state schools. The boys at private schools might have blazers, but the blazer was still commonly seen as a sports uniform. Boys in the 1900s wore the suits with Eton collars that had become so common in the late 19th century. The Eton collars in the 1900s were still very common. There was, however, no consensus as to neckwear. We see both bows and neckties. The younger boys at state schools might wear a variety of outfits, including ruffled and lace collars and sailor suits. Boys in preparatorry and public schools as well as older boys at state schools usually wore jackets with Eton collars. We still see knickers which were still very common. Boys also wore straight-leg knee pants, especiall younger boys. We don't see short pants yet to any extent. The one major change during the 1900s was that the knickers commonly worn during the late-19th century became less common. Younger boys instead wore knee pants with long stockings. At many public schools, the younger boys wore Eton colars while the older boys wore regular soft collars. The Eton collars were often, but not always worn with ties or other neckwear. The younger boys might wear knee pants and the older boys long pants. Hosiery was mostly long stockings. It is a little difficult to tell, but we don't notice a lot of knee socks.

Badges

The badges that came to be commonly worn later in the 20th century were still not as common in the 1900s.

Seasonality

Some schools had seasonal uniform. The boys seen here, for example, look to be wearing light-weight summer suits (figure 1). The younger boys might wear knee pants and the older boys long pants.

Girls

Girls wore dresses, often with pinfores.

Navigate the English School Uniform Chronology Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Return to the Early 20th century page]
[Main English 20th century page]
[Inter-war years] [Post-war years] [Late 20th century]

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform Pages
[Return to the Main English school page]
[Return to the Main country school page]
[Australia] [France] [Germany]
[Italy] [Japan] [New Zealand] [Scotland]
[United States]

Navigate the HBC School Section
[Return to the Main English school chronology page]
[About Us]
[Activities] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Debate] [Economics] [Garment] [Gender] [Hair] [History] [Home trends] [Literary characters]
[School types] [Significance] [Transport and travel [Uniform regulations] [Year level] [Other topics]
[Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]

Created: January 26, 2003
Last updated: 7:37 PM 11/11/2021