Primary school uniforms - have they always been a thing?

[HighburyLass]

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?

Uniform was introduced into my primary school in my final year 1973/74.

I was at primary school in the 70s. Our school had a uniform, but it was optional and from what I remember most people didn't wear it. The only time I did was for a school concert as we had to wear uniform for that.

I started primary school in 1978, no uniform.

I started school in 1980 and there was no uniform. My younger sibling was at the same primary until 1991 and there was still no uniform then.

I was in primary in London until 1984 and there was no uniform. No homework either.

Was just looking at my old primary school, there's a history website ... I'm in the photos!

You can see nont many in actual uniform. A few in dressier clothes, as it was photos day!

I'm fairly sure the uniform changed to/from the grey jumper to a generic bottle green. But maybe it was all optional (or the other way round!)

Either way, indefinitely remember not having to wear uniform.

1970s NW England. We had a uniform, as did all the other schools in the area. I had cousins who lived about 100 miles from us and they had no uniform. I remember feeling green with envy, and thinking theirs must be the coolest school in the world!

i went to school in the 90s no uniform at my primary school and none of the other local primary schools had a uniform.

I started school in 1962, aged 4, and I wore a uniform. All the local schools had uniforms. I had to wear a white, long-sleeved shirt and a school tie; a grey skirt or pinafore dress; grey or white socks and a jumper, with a black gabardine coat.

There were no rules concerning shoes: we could wear any type and any colour. I remember having red shoes when I was about six.

We were all expected to be able to put on a tie, unbutton and rebutton a shirt and tie our shoelaces from the age of 4 or 5. Most of us managed it.

My own children started school in the 1980s. They too wore uniform from Reception onwards.

I started primary in 1988, uniform was compulsory as of 1989!

I started primary school in 1964 and wore school uniform. DD started primary school in 2005 and wore school uniform. It isn't a recent thing.

Born in 60s. Wore uniform dress and cardigan. Both of our kids did (29 and 21 now).

My parents were at primary school in the late 40s / 50s. I think uniform existed but rarely worn because of clothes rationing.

I went to the same primary as my Grandfather he would have attended in the 1920s and they had the same school colours and tie as I did in the 1970s / 80s.

I started reception class in 1989. No uniform for infants school then, but when we moved up into junior school, uniform was compulsory.

Optional at one (navy jumper/cardigan blue striped tie and grey skirts for girls, shorts for boys except for top juniors/year 6). None at my primary in Leeds in 1985.

I was a governor at a school that introduced uniform in 2020. Just a purple polo and sweat shirt with grey bottoms. Parents voted for uniform there

Started school 1997 and had a uniform

I was born in the 60s and wore school uniform. My mum was born in the 40s and wore school uniform.

I started school in 1986.. London and no school uniform until I started secondary school in 1993.
My son started school in 2006 and has always had to wear a uniform.

Started primary in the 1970s. We had a uniform but it was optional. From middle school onwards it was compulsory but no obligatory logos, blazers or uniform shops (I was at school during the change to first, middle and secondary (comprehensive).

I wore uniform in primary- proper shirts and ties! I was born in 1978

When I was in primary school (started 1992) we only had to wear the school jumper. They’d like you to wear the full uniform but it wasn’t an issue if you didn’t, as long as you had a jumper they didn’t care. Not like nowadays where it’s all North Korea if you don’t have the correct uniform.

I started school in 1984. No uniform.

Started primary school in 1974 and everyone wore uniform which included a proper tie, not a clip on one.

I went to primary school 1970-1976. No uniform.

My nieces went from1986-1995. No uniform at the start, optional uniform by the end.

My DSes went in 2002. Compulsory uniform throughout.

I was literally having this same conversation with my son just last week, couldn't find anything on google and tried putting a thread together but nothing sounded right! 😆

I am so glad to see this thread, my boys are super jealous that my primary years were spent wearing casual clothes but never knew at what point it changed.

All the local primaries when I was younger were non uniform but are now all uniform.

Although I do remember if you forgot your PE kit, you had to do it in just your knickers 😱 obviously that would never happen now and quite rightly so.