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Primary school uniforms - have they always been a thing?

206 replies

HighburyLass · 29/08/2024 21:49

Wasn't quite sure how to phrase the title so I'll explain!

When I was growing up I didn't know anyone who wore a uniform in primary school. Tho was the 1970s.
My kid's (who are now in their 20s) had uniform introduced while they were in primary, so early 2000s.

Now around here I don't know any primary schools that don't have a uniform.

So interested to know,

Did you wear a uniform and how old are you?
What about your kids? How old are they?

OP posts:
Crimsonripple · 29/08/2024 21:51

I started school in 1990 and we wore uniform.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 29/08/2024 21:52

Not always - it was there but optional when I went in the early 80s.
I've worked in my school since the mid 90s and they already had a uniform in place that wasn't optional.

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 29/08/2024 21:54

Went to school in the 80s. Primary school had a uniform.

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OhWell45 · 29/08/2024 21:54

I wore uniform in primary and I was born in the 70s.

Kitkat1523 · 29/08/2024 21:55

80s

mitogoshi · 29/08/2024 21:55

I wore uniform to state school in the 1970's - outer London. Proper tie, shirt, jumper and skirt, optional blazer - from 4 years old and no Velcro shoes so I had buckles my brother had laces and you were expected to learn how to do it all before starting!

KendraTheVampyrSlayer · 29/08/2024 21:55

I started primary school in 1982 and wore a uniform. I've never known any school not to have uniform.

SockQueen · 29/08/2024 21:55

I started primary school in 1988; I think my school introduced uniform when I was in year 2, so 1990/91?

My DSs are now in primary, y1/3, and their school has a uniform right the way through.

FaintlyMacabre · 29/08/2024 21:56

I was at primary school 1983-1989ish. No uniform in my London primary. Optional uniform IIRC in my rural primary, but I seem to think no one really wore it.
My children started school 30 years later in the same London borough I grew up in and most of the schools still didn’t have uniform. We then moved out of London to a town where all the schools had uniform.
Personally I dislike primary uniform and don’t see the point of it.

EmpressaurusDeiGatti · 29/08/2024 21:56

OhWell45 · 29/08/2024 21:54

I wore uniform in primary and I was born in the 70s.

Me too.

DelurkingAJ · 29/08/2024 21:56

No uniform at my primary (1984-1991).

Singleandproud · 29/08/2024 21:56

I went to school in London 1990-96 with no uniform, moved to a different county and uniforms were the norm at all the primary schools

NothingAGoodCuppaDoesntFix · 29/08/2024 21:56

I started school 1988 and had uniform.

TickingAlongNicely · 29/08/2024 21:57

Optional in 90s.
I would say 90% wore it.

westcountrywoman · 29/08/2024 21:57

I wore uniform at primary in the mid-80s, as did everyone else in my area attending different schools. My parents both wore uniform at primary school in the 50s and 60s.

LittleYellowCloth · 29/08/2024 21:57

I started primary in 1975, and always had a uniform: pinafore dress or skirt with white blouse and school colour tie, with a cardigan or jumper to match the skirt/dress.

StuckOnTheCeiling · 29/08/2024 21:57

I started school in 1990 and wore uniform.

WYorkshireRose · 29/08/2024 21:58

Started 1993, wore a uniform.

Middlenamespot · 29/08/2024 21:58

I went to school early 80s Ireland and we all wore a uniform in primary and I hated it 😂😂

Namechange8463 · 29/08/2024 21:58

In primary 88-94 and always had a uniform. It surprises me that some didn't as I assumed school uniform was always a thing in the UK!

Davros · 29/08/2024 21:58

I went to state primary c.1965 and we had uniform although it was quite flexible, e.g. grey dress, white shirt, school tie but the exact dress style was free choice

Lovelysummerdays · 29/08/2024 21:59

There was a primary uniform in the 80s when I was a child not at secondary. The dc have always had uniform. Very relaxed at primary. Stricter at secondary. Nothing fancy just white shirt/ tie and pretty much any black skirt / black trousers / black jumper/ black shoes / black trainers. I quite like school uniform it’s easy. I’d be less enamoured if I was paying £££s for logoed everything.

Flexibubble · 29/08/2024 21:59

Yes I wore a uniform in the 80s. I love DS having to wear one, his school finds supermarket brands fine so it's cheap to buy, no thinking about what to wear everyday etc and it's comfortable.

CooksDryMeasure · 29/08/2024 22:00

It was optional at my primary school from when I started in 1987 to when my brother left in 1998. It’s compulsory there now.

BingBongBoo86 · 29/08/2024 22:00

State primary, South East London. Started in 1990. No uniform.