School uniform

indinana, I thought by your uniform description that you went to the same school as me! Until you mentioned the nun.
We did wear the large navy blue knickers, for Indoor gym lessons we were dressed in those knickers and airtex shirts. Our first names had to be embroidered on the shirt in inch high red letters. I never knew why, the staff all knew our names!
Indoor and outdoor Clarkes shoes worn, as well.

I'm in favour of school uniform, but not to the extent of stuff that I had to wear!

thatbags - It was a girls only convent.

Yes! Minibags is quite glad they have a uniform, although compared with mine during the sixties and seventies, it's very flexible. It limits the effort she has to put into the "what to wear?!?" problem. Now the pressure comes from make-up and hair dye instead.

Teenagers will always find a way to pressurise their peers.

One good thing about school uniform is that it gives angry hormonal teenagers something harmless to rebel against.

I wonder when the next wave against uniform will begin. During the seventies and eighties there was a swing away from school uniforms. I went to uni with someone who hadn't had to wear uniform in her sixth form. In my sixth form, each year group could choose fabric with which to make their school summer dress. My year chose a print that came in pinks or blues. The school uniform was bottle green.

During the late eighties my kids' Oxfordshire primary school didn't have a uniform. When Minibags went to the same school in the noughties, it did.

Time to swing back soon, I reckon.

Did boys have to sew their own secondary school uniforms, pippa?

All the schools I know about have uniforms - I thought that there had been a bit of a u turn on that policy.

that should have been 'ensuring', too buy sewing to learn how to spell!!

One school I went to in the far east many years ago had a unique way of insuring we wore the uniform. The last term in the 'primary school' we had to make our school uniform for the 'senior' school in the sewing class. From measuring ourselves, to making the pattern, to actually cutting out and sewing it on old fashioned treadle machines, under the stern instructions of the nun in charge. One false stitch and it had to be redone.

We didn't have to wear uniform at primary school but our secondary school colours were bottle green and gold. There was a delightful green gaberdene (sp) Mac and green beret, thank goodness they weren't compulsory.
Cherry one of our local primary schools wears purple blazers white shirts and striped ties, the girls wear purple tartan skirts. A bit OTT for 4-5 yr olds in my opinion.

Thanks cherry you are a mine of information we softy Southerners have no idea of the sayings 'beyond the Wall'.

Everage = Average in an Australian accent! Sorry if this was obvious to everyone. Clever name.

* roses* yes a Scottish expression
According to my dad it went ...
'Skinny malinky long legs
Umbrella feet
Went to the dance
And couldn't get a seat,'

Skinny malinky.
Is a skinny person or child.
Its just like rhyming slang.

Yes all nursery and school uniform in our area
One primary has a lovely purple uniform with matching schoolbags

Non-compliance with knicker regulations, Indinana, how very slack! Weren't you caught out when you were getting changed for PE? Though perhaps you didn't have a mustachioed gorgon in a divided skirt and hockey boots prowling the changing room? Our knickers had to be navy blue, and yes, bought from one of two ruinously expensive outfitters. I don't know anyone who didn't comply!

My DD1 was (and still is) very dinky, Thingmajig, and I can remember having to order her an age 3 uniform from M & S when she started school, even though she was 5 a couple of weeks later. Happy memories!

We had a very strict uniform, available at only one store. The V-necked cardigans had a stripy button band made from the three school colours, which made it rather difficult to duplicate with a pair of knitting needles! One enterprising mother managed to do just that for her daughter, who was roundly ticked off in front of the whole school at assembly and told not to return to school without the correct uniform .
Straw hats in summer, felt ones for winter. each with the enamelled school badge pinned to the band. Regulation everything, even knickers! No-one I knew complied with that particular regulation, and I don't recall any nun asking a pupil to lift her skirt for inspection

Oh alright Antonia It wasn't me ( didn't need specs until I was 45) but your school sounds much like mine.

Thingamajig are you in Scotland by any chance? what is a malinky? sounds scary.

We've just found out that wee DGD will need a uniform for her nursery at the beginning on the year ... she will be 3. DD having much trouble finding stuff to fit as she is a wee skinny malinky. Can't help but wonder why the school (nursery is attached to the local private school) don't keep stock of small sizes. Not all 3 year old are built like tank after all!

I'm sure she'll look very smart, if somewhat drowned on her first day.

Yes, it's definitely Everage (this b....y autocorrect!) Rosesarered you are cracking me up!! I remember the name of the girl and somehow I just don't think it was you!

I thought it was the opposite all the schools in my area are uniformed not one primary or high without we have four high schools and numerous primaries

There is still time though Ana!

Me too, Daphne!

I saw the thread title and thought ....."ere we go, ere we go, ere we go" but see I was wrong.

My Granddaughters High School has just introduced a more strict uniform of grey skirts/trousers white shirts, navy jumper, tie and blazer. They are very strict about the shoes they wear they have to be leather, black not patent or canvas. They all look very smart, of course sixth formers get to abandon uniform.

Yes, its Everage.OMG purple felt hats! I got away lightly with a beret then.