Figure 1.--Boys at the South Shields Grammar and Technical School, a secondary school, in 1957 wore both short and long trousers. The first year boys had to wear short trousers. These second year boys or their parents could choose short or long trousers. Note that one boy wears school sandals, this was less common than short pants at secondary schools.

After the turn of the century short trousers also appeared, especially after World War I (1914-18). Short trousers were very common through the 1950s. Almost all primary-age boys wore them at both state and private schools. Often they were not required, but were just commonly worn. Most primary boys wore them, even during the winter. Even some older boys wore them. Shorts were also worn at secondary schools by the younger boys. Here schools varied. Some schools required the younger boys to wear shorts, others left it up to the boys and their parents. Shorts were even more common at private schools, especially preparaory schools. Some private econdary schools also requred shorts. Rules varied from school to school. Shorts at schools began to decline in the 1960s. Some state schools began to requite them. Through the 1960s, junior boys at many secondary schools, especially grammar shools wore shorts. Most private preparatory schools required them though the 1970s. Short trousers are now more common in the warmer months, especially for younger boys. Most secondary schools do not now allow boys to wear shorts. There are some exceptions and some schools are rethinking this policy.

Chronology

We see very young English boys wearing short pants with socks during the late-19th century. This is something you do mot see in America, even quite young American boys wore long stockings. School age boys did not wear short pants with socks in the 19th century. There were shortened length pants worn to school, including knee pants and knickers, but not short pants. The shortened-length pants were always worn with long stockings or long socks pulled up high. Ebglish boys mostly wore knee pants, but you also see knickers being worn at private schols and grammar schools that had set uniforms. This continued into the 20th century. You see some boys wearing what look somewhat like short pants and knee socks. Here the Boy Scouts were surely a facor in popularizing short pants. But at achool rarely is the whole knee seen because the knee pants were somewhat longer than short pants. After the turn of the century short trousers also appeared, especially after World War I (1914-18). It is only in the 1920s that short pants become common, especially by mid-decade. Shorts became a litle shorter in the 1930s, but continued rather long and baggy into the 1950s. From that point short pants became standard wear for English school boys. Shorts were syill common in the 60s. We begin to see shorter trimer cut shorts like tose worn on the continent in the 1960s. We also see more and more boys wearing long pants until they were fairly standard by the 1990s. Mny shools had uniforms in which shorts pants were required. This was especially the case of private school, especially preparatory schools. Before Workd War II, state primaries did not require unifiorms. After the war, especially by the 1960s we begin to see many primary schools requiring uniforms. Short persisted as part of school uniform a little longer than was the case in popular fashion. We behin to see longer shorts in the late-80s. By the 1990s, shorts were becoming less common even in the private schools.

School Level

Almost all primary-age boys wore them at both state and private schools. Often they were not required, but were just commonly worn. Most primary boys wore them, even during the winter. Even some older boys wore them. Shorts were also worn at secondary schools by the younger boys. Shorts at schools began to decline in the 1960s. Some state schools began to require them. Through the 1960s, junior boys at many secondary schools, especially grammar shools wore shorts. Most private preparatory schools required them though the 1970s. Short trousers are now more common in the warmer months, especially for younger boys. Most secondary schools do not now allow boys to wear shorts. There are some exceptions and some schools are rethinking this policy.

School Rules

Here schools varied. Some schools required the younger boys to wear shorts, others left it up to the boys and their parents. Shorts were even more common at private schools, especially preparaory schools. Some private econdary schools also requred shorts. Rules varied from school to school. Some schools went by age others by form. Some schools had a heigth regulation. For the most pat the regulations were requirements that boys wear short trousers. As shorts became less popular they disappeared at state secondary schools. Many secondary schools even prohibited boys from wearing short trousers.

Types of Shorts

Types of Schools

he requirements of English schools concerning uniform including short pants varied by the type of school as well as variations at different schools. The various types of English schools seems enornously complex to the Americam reader. Schools have included: academies, Anglican, Catholic, dame, grammar, hospital, national, normal, preparatory, public, ragged, secondary modern, and many others. In addition to this complexity, the names are misleading. Public schools are exclusive private schools.The term Independant schools is also used for private schools. ManyIndependant schools were grant maintained which meant that many pupils were fee paying whilst the state paid for 10% (eg Norwich School). Grammar schools are for secondary-age children while preparatory schools are for elementary age chldren. The uniform regulations or lack of such regulations at these schools would be a very complex study, requiring a separate book. We will how however provide a short summary to assist the reader. One key law creating the modern structure of English Education was the 1944 Education Act. It reflected the growing political clout of the Labor Party and the aim was to expand educational opportunity. The law had some features that would be now viewed as elitist, especially the 11 plus exams to gain access to the best secondary schools. The school leaving age was raised to age 15 in 1944 and the Conservatives later raised it to age 16.

Material

Pockets

Pockets are an important part of the pants and trousers. This was especially the case for boys because they liked to pick up all kind of little treasures and pockets were a great place to store them. Short pants and trousers come with some variation in the pocket arrangements. The standard arrangement was two front pockets and no back pockets. There were differences between short anf long trousers as well as tyoes of trousers. School shorts were usually made without back pockets. Boys did not normally have wallets, thus there was no real need for back pockets. I'm not sure about the long trousers. Here the pocket arrangements varied as to the type of schools. Stylistic changes affected the pockets, especially the size of the pockets. Shorts at mid-century tended to be long and baggy. This allowed for large, voluminous pockets. Shorts in the 1960s began to become both shorter and more snug fitting. This mean that much less could be fitted into the pockets. In addition to the existence of pockets and the pocket arrangements, one interesting question is just what boys carry in their pockets. We have collected some accounts.

Created: September 30, 2003
Last updated: 12:43 PM 7/12/2021