Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Did you wear school uniform at primary school.

188 replies

Stupiddriver1 · 07/12/2019 18:26

And if not what decade was this?

I was at primary school in the 1980s and there was no uniform at all.

All schools seem to have uniforms now and I was wondering if my school was unusual in the 1980s or if it was more common to not have uniforms then.

OP posts:
KatherineJaneway · 08/12/2019 14:18

I was at primary in the 70's and there was no uniform until secondary school.

brimfullofasha · 08/12/2019 14:28

I went to school from mid 80s and didn't have uniform in any of my schools.

Mistlewoeandwhine · 08/12/2019 15:30

1970s rural Ulster. Tiny primary school with no uniform but my bloody mother invented one ( grey pinafore, grey cardigan, grey socks etc etc) and made my sister and I wear it anyway 😭😭😭😭

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Clothing General education
TammyKat · 08/12/2019 15:31

Uniform at my school in the 00’s

ffofana · 08/12/2019 18:44

Hello,
I grew up in France in the 90s and there's no uniform unless you are in a private or boarding school.

Dogsaresomucheasier · 08/12/2019 18:47

In the early 80s uniform wasn’t compulsory in the infants (reception to year 2 in modern parlance,) but was in the junior section of the same state primary.

PineappleDanish · 08/12/2019 18:50

I started Primary School in Scotland in 1977 and we all wore uniform. Shirt and tie, pinafore. No polo shirts and sweatshirts.

Spidey66 · 08/12/2019 18:54

Infants, no. Juniors, yes. Attended primary in the 70s.

Aventurine · 08/12/2019 18:56

There was no school uniform in Juniors (there is there now) the Head thought himself quite progressive for getting rid of it, although not that progressive as he gave people the slipper! (was the 70s/early 80s)
In the Infants you could either wear own clothes or there was an optional uniform with tie and wool blazer.
Secondary school we had uniform but it was less formal than it is now. We had no blazer or kilt or regulation jumper like they do now. Just any navy skirt or jumper/cardigan.
There are no schools where i live now that don't have uniform

RunningNinja79 · 08/12/2019 20:00

None in my primary school in the 80's. Dont know of any primary schools that had uniform and Im surprised at the amount of PPs who did wear uniform in the primary school in the 80's

DappledThings · 08/12/2019 20:08

None in my primary school in the 80's. Dont know of any primary schools that had uniform and Im surprised at the amount of PPs who did wear uniform in the primary school in the 80's

Totally the opposite experience! I had no idea any schools other than Montessori or alternative ones didn't have uniform.

I started noticing that primary school children now usually wear polo shirt based uniform but I assumed that was a step down in formality from what they had previously rather than the introduction of a uniform.

Between us, because of moves the length of the country my brother and I went to two infant schools and three junior schools. Only one of the infant schools didn't have uniform. My mum was really thrown by it.

isabellerossignol · 08/12/2019 20:14

I started school in 1980 and we had a uniform. All the schools did. My mum was at school in the 1940s and had a uniform. I'm in N Ireland and uniforms are a big thing here (very expensive, single suppliers, all sorts of weird and wonderful colours) but when I was at primary school I remember hearing rumours that children in England didn't wear school uniforms and they went to school in July and we all reacted like this Shock Grin

bruffin · 08/12/2019 20:20

1960/70s had uniform for special occasions in school trips.
It wasn't very nice, girls were always commenting on other girls clothes.

ChaiNashta · 08/12/2019 20:20

Nope no uniform at Primary school (1980's, London). However I also don't recall there being as much peer pressure as there is now amongst children with regards to clothing (designer labels etc).

CoffeeBeansGalore · 08/12/2019 20:21

Went to several primaries, late 70s & 80s. Some had compulsory uniforms, some didn't. Both secondary schools had strict compulsory uniforms (including p.e. kit).

MadisonAvenue · 08/12/2019 20:23

I left primary school in 1980 and we didn't have a uniform.

backouch · 08/12/2019 20:23

Nope, no uniform that I can recall just a general school colour but not really adhered to. Mid-late 80's.

poseysbobblehat · 08/12/2019 20:24

I started primary late 70's and no uniform. None of the primary schools did near us until the late 80's.

MadisonAvenue · 08/12/2019 20:25

Just to add, none of the local primary schools had uniforms either.

doritosdip · 08/12/2019 20:26

70s/80s London. Uniform at all the local primary schools

Spied · 08/12/2019 20:30

Primary 1985-1991. No uniform. ( Just shellsuitsGrin)
Secondary school 1991- uniform ( very relaxed though)

stopgocar · 08/12/2019 20:34

Yes. Mid 80s, Catholic school. Shirt and real
tie with pinafore dress or skirt for the girls. DC now at the same school and the basic uniform hasn't changed - only they have velcro ties and can wear a polo shirt in the summer.

gospelsinger · 08/12/2019 20:38

No - 70s. Also, several primary schools local to me now (different area from where I grew up) do not have uniforms.

DecemberSnow · 08/12/2019 20:39

Yep.... 87

Aventurine · 09/12/2019 10:14

Polo shirts and sweaters seem to be dying out where i am and being replaced by shirt and tie. Some primaries across the greater London border are even getting blazers and jumpers with a coloured band round the lapel/collar