Figure 2.--Many British boys in the 1960s wore short pants and kneesocks to school, but in secondary school it was mostly because the school required it. The boys were photographed in 1964. There school was probably a grammar school--a academically selective secondary school. |
This school was photographed in 1964. We believe that it is an English grammar school, but in fact have no information about the school. The available image clearly
shows the school badge on the blazers, so hopefully our English readers will help us identify it. The photograph appears to be the new entrant First Form boys, but a
few look a bit older. All of the boys but one wear short trousers with their blazers, but as ond boy, nect to form master, wears long trousers--we are not sure what
the school uniform regulations were.
We have no details about this school. The uniform clearly show that it is a British school. We think it is probably English as at many Scottish schools the boys often wore open collars. It could be Scottish, Welsh or Irish, but given the greater number of Englush schools we think that it is likely English.
Grammar Schools were academically selective secondary schools. Many grammar schools were single gender schools, but coed grammar schools were not completely unknown. We think that this was probably a grammar school because the boys are so smartly turned out. Boys of lesser academic abilities went to secondary modern schools. Often the schools were not as strict about their uniforms as the grammar schools. This was not always the case as much depended on the headmaster. We believe, however, that this school was probably a grammar school.
Figure 2.--While we do not know the name of this school, hopefully one of our English readers will recognize the school badge. |
HBC hopes that the clear depiction of the school badge may help our English readers identify the school. Also the front of the school may help identify it. Many preparatory schools were establish in old country houses which were reconverted for a school. We are less sure of what kind of buildings were used for grammar schools. They were, however, day schools located in cities.
As we do not yetvknow the name of the school, we do not yet know where it was located.
HBC has only a few images from the school, but they show how English schoolwear trends were changing in the 1960s. These changes were observable at grammar schools even before they became comprehensives.
An examination of the photograph provides some details about the uniform regulations at the school. The students wear dark blazers, although we are not sure about the colors. Al but one boy wears short trousers and kneesocks. The fact that almost all the students are wearing the full uniform with short trousers suggests that the regulations were strictly enforced. We do not know why the one boy wears long trousers.
No additional information on other years is available at this time.
Figure 3.--Note the variation in the length and fit of the boys' short trousers and the style of kneesocks. |
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer]
[School sandals]