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?

London primary in mid 70s - optional uniform. Midlands Church School primary a couple of years later - compulsory uniform

I wore a uniform in the 90s in the North, I thought all schools did. Even the church playgroup 'rising 5s' wore a logo'd sweatshirt.

State primary. Early 1970s. We had summer and winter uniform, including a straw boater (summer) and felt hat (winter), and blazer. PE kit was regulation too and we could only wear one colour for knickers. Shoes had to be buckles (girls) or laces (boys). Boys were in short trousers until they were about 10. You had to get it from the specialist shop, 2nd hand from the PTA stall or hand-me-downs from siblings. The summer dress fabric could be bought from the bolt and made up if you had a mother who sewed (mine did). Also, hand knitted jumpers that would be unravelled and re-knitted.

I started infants school in 79 and we had a uniform. White shirt, tie, jumper, grey skirt for girls and grey shorts for boys. Boys had a school cap. My mother went to the same school in the 50s and they had a uniform then as well apparently.

I started school in 1985 and there were no uniforms, and the same when I started middle school in 1989. We had uniform at secondary. I started there in 1993. The same was true for my brother, who was four years behind me.

There was no uniform at my primary school in London, late 80s/early 90s. Other schools nearby had one though.

1960s wore uniform at primary school

I started school in 1963 and wore a uniform at my infant, junior, and secondary schools. My daughter started school in 1996 and wore a uniform at all three schools she went to, although it wasn't strictly enforced at her infant school.

The uniform code was very strict in all of my schools, and ties were compulsory at my infant and junior schools. Skirts had to be knee length at secondary school and if there was any suggestion thst they were too short, we had to kneel down to make sure that they touched the floor. If they didn't then it was an automatic detention. 😆

I started (ordinary state)school in 1970 and had a uniform. It was pinafore, blouse tie and jumper in the winter and a gingham dress in the summer. All the other schools in the area had similar.

I live within 5 miles of over 20 primary and secondary schools. I don't know any schools whose pupils DON'T wear uniform.

I was born 1985, I vaguely remember them bringing the uniform requirement in when I was in infant school…I recall having a year or 2 where we didn’t wear uniform and then we did.

I started state primary school in 1976, no uniform.

Started primary early 70s. Not only a uniform but also a tie from Reception (which was called 1st year infants then). All the primary schools around us that fed into the same secondary school has uniforms.

I then started teaching in the early 90s in a school with no uniform but we were the only school for miles around without uniform.

Started primary in 1982, no uniform.
Own children attended no uniform primary school in South London recently and I've taught in a couple of non-uniform primaries too.

I didn’t (late 70s/early 80s) but it was a tiny village school. The primaries in the nearby town did.

No uniform at my London primary in the 60s, and that school doesn't have a uniform now. The nearby primaries don't either, although schools in the further ( poorer) side of the borough do wear uniforms, as do the church schools.
My DC were at a primary about a mile away 1996-2010, and their school had a ' soft ' uniform, plain white or blue logo'd polo, and navy, black or grey bottoms .

Mid 80s, no uniform in primary school (England not London).

Secondary school pretty basic requirements, anything with logos on was optional, as were ties. I don’t know when it changed, both schools now have full uniforms. Perhaps early 2000s.

When I was in primary only private primary schools had uniforms. That would be early 1970s.

I started school in 1969 and no uniforms in primary then (unless it was a private school...my friend went to a private school and they wore brown pinafores, yellow shirts and socks, and a straw boater hat...I was very jealous 🤣)

Uniforms can cause issues for some kids. It's not like people in offices really wear shirt and tie anymore (yes done do but most dont). I'd like to be more relaxed. Joggers, t shirt and hoodie (optional skirt and shorts). My ds has ASD and was always far more comfy in his PE kit.

I didn't wear a uniform to either my primary or secondary in the 70s and 80s. My nephews go to the same schools now and they still don't have uniforms. Rural Scotland. Having just spent the best part of £400 kitting out DS for secondary school I wish that I had the choice of sending my children to a school without uniform. Pointless expense that makes the kids less comfortable and gives teachers an easy stick to control the kids with (just think of all the pointless rules about uniform adherence).

I started primary school late 70s and we had a uniform as did all the schools around us.

I started school in 1967 I wore uniform including shirt, tie and blazer. It was a very ordinary school in a town in Scotland. Same with high school. My DDs wore uniform at their primary and high schools. schools in the 90's. I've never seen a school in Scotland without a uniform.

Infant school we had a uniform, junior school we didn't have a uniform (80s). I much preferred no uniform.

I started primary in 1968 and I wore a full school uniform. Just the local school, nothing posh. I have pics of me in my maroon pleated skirt, blue and white gingham blouse and maroon cardigan. I also had a blazer and a beret.