Burnley Grammar School

I attended a mixed comp in the mid 1980s. PE kit was all white, shorts, tee shirt, socks and pumps, for games lessons we had a rugby top.

Neither kit included any underwear, I don’t remember us being provide with a reason but that was the school rule and we had no choice, we just had to comply with it until we left.

Like Jeff our kit list was similar during the late 60s. Until the 4th year we wore white shorts and plimsolls for gym, athletics cross country and tennis during the summer. No pants were allowed under the shorts. For football and rugby it was black shorts, a top and socks and boots. From the 5th year we wore jockstraps under shorts both for gym and outdoor sports. We didn't think anything of it. The support from the jockstrap was welcomed as we got older!

Grammar school, early 70

PE
Just shorts, bare feet, no top

Cross country

Shorts, vest, plimsolls in winter.
Shorts, plimsolls, stripped to waist, rest of year.
Couple of boys ran barefoot.


Rugby, cricket

Normal kit.

Showers after all sports, naked.

My school games kit, late 1960s and early 1970s was:
For PE, cross country, athletics, tennis, rowing -
Gym shirt (T- shirt)
white shorts
jockstrap
white short socks
plimsoles / gym shoes

For rugby & hockey -
rugby shirt
black rugby shorts
jockstrap
long socks
rugby boots

For cricket
White shirt
Grey trousers
White trousers
Jockstrap plus pocket for a box
Short white socks
White cricket boots
Cricket bat

My school games kit, early 1970s was:
For PE, cross country, athletics -
Gym shirt (T- shirt)
white shorts
jockstrap
white short socks
plimsoles / gym shoes

For rugby & hockey -
rugby shirt
black rugby shorts
jockstrap
long socks
rugby boots

For me at an all boys school(1961 to 1966)for P.E. indoors and games/ Athletics outside, we wore white shorts 60's style so quite short. As Tim wrote" Underpants weren't worn - because they weren't. I can't recall 'underpants checks'." The only time a boy was caught wearing pants was because he foolishly wore white shorts which were quite thin with coloured briefs which showed trough just enough for the teacher to see. Although people posting on here have referred to jock straps we never wore them not even at 15 or 16 hears of age. They were never mention by the p.e. or games teachers so in doors and outdoors it was shorts with no support. Track suit bottoms outside in winter were unheard of.

Ade C:
Time frame 1950s-60s.
Primary school (age 5 - 11): no special PE kit. We all wore short trousers so we just removed blazers/jumpers/shoes/socks.

Secondary school 1 (age 11-15):
For first two years, vests, shorts and plimsolls
For next three years, bare chests, shorts and plimsolls
Underpants optional, but we mostly went commando.

Secondary School 2 (age 15 - 18):
T-shirts (white), rugby shorts (black), plimsolls.
Again, underpants optional, but jock-straps were popular.

Tim H,
I think that your school had a fair indoor PE kit rule of making the wearing of a T shirt optional. It’s good that lads were allowed to do PE barechested if they wanted to.

Rsponding to Ady ...
Boys Technical Grammar School in the E Midlands - possibly starting 60 years ago today.
Two periods of gym per week - I seem to recall mainly 'agilities', etc., rather than team games but I can't recall too much on that.
For gym: white shorts - quite baggy in the early 60s, white tee shirt (optional - worn by most), plimsolls. Shorts got shorter as the 60s progressed and fashions changed: waistbands being turned oveetc.. By 66 onwards many of us would be wearing fairly short shorts - think of the 1966 World Cup. Shorts were still cotton - nylon didn't really come in until the mid 70s onwards. Underpants weren't worn - because they weren't. I can't recall 'underpant checks'. 'Skins' v 'shirts' happened - you just got on with it. Showers were compulsory - the 'walk-through' sort - someone got sent to turn the water on on the individual taps. Those who were first through got cold/cool water - heating up for the last ones. Trunks weren't worn. I don't recall any problems - just the usual angst of boys turning into young men.
The was one afternoon of games a week, on quite extensive games fields. The groundsman knew his job - the grass on the cricket pitch was pretty good. The games fields were a bus ride from the school - all part of growing up to get there. Autumn term was football, Spring was football/cross-country, & Summer was cricket, rounders, and athletics (not often).
Football/cross country kit was the traditional cotton 'rugby' style shirt that absorbed the rain. Shorts were black, often in a heavier twill fabric (I wore my last pair for a number of years after, until they just wore out). Boots & socks for football, plimsolls & football socks for cross-country. (Rugby wasn't played but there was an 'option' in the 5th & 6th Forms).
Cross-country (not barefoot) seemed to be disliked. In the 1st Form the course (Looking on MapmyRun) was about a mile & a half, all on pavements in the local council housing estate. In the 2nd & 3rd Years we did a course of just under 4 miles: following pavements, some metalled country footpaths, and a 'green lane'; the 4th & 5th Forms did rather longer. For those who like to know about showers - the ones at the games fields were the traditional 'over-head' sort. As far as I can recall there was no 'supervision' as such, except that a Games Master, wet through after refereeing a match on a wet day might use the showers.
We didn't swim.
People have made comments about PE teachers being 'bullies', 'sufferers from PTSD', 'perverts', etc.
Possibly but I never experienced it. The younger ones had, I suppose, 'done their time' and National Service ended after I started secondary school. I suspect many of them had seen unfit young men suffering in National Service and regarded it as their 'duty' to see that we were fit.
Other teachers had been in the school pre-1939 - one, each Remembrance Day, had to read out the names of those killed in two World Wars -boys he had known.
Enough from me

Ade C
I would suggest you read the full thread, and the four related threads here, to get an overview of what everyone else here had for PE/sports kit back in their schooldays. Don't forget that this is principally a discussion of historical photos, rather than a survey of contemporary practice.

We had plain white shorts and a T shirt for PE, bare feet up to the age of 11 indoors then white socks and trainers were allowed.

Our Games kit 11+ I had the reversible rugby shirt. It was uncomfortable at the best of times but particularly when it soaked.

Sometimes the teacher would change his mind and send us on a cross country run and it was just far too heavy for that - I’d rather have taken it off and run shirtless.

What was everyone’s p e kit? Secondary we had the reversible rugby jersey, in cotton, very heavy in the rain. Blue and yellow with shorts and socks to match. Indoors was white shorts, plimsolls optional, bare feet compulsory for gymnastics. The girls I remember were bare foot for all indoor p e.

I agree with the last paragraph written by Andrew Nonymous.

I don't see a problem with school showers. Here in the USA though they are not as common as they were a few decades ago. I grew up a child of the 1980s and for our classes we only stripped down to our underwear and back (as boys...though the girls did the same). It was a combination of too many students, not enough resources to shower and the amount of time in between the end of one class and the start of another one for that day in the next class.

But there's no reason to be shy around the same sex; you get used to being naked around other boys and men after the first few times. We all have the same parts in there, so there's no reason to be embarrassed or modest.

Mr Dando washing after physical activity is abput cleanliness and hygiene. I am getting rather bored of your constant repetitive cries against washing. If you dont like it fine but why do you just repeat the same thing every time? Its boring and not interesting. You post the same thing on other threads on this site too. Makes me want to atop reading the whole site. Writing on here is going to make no difference at all, so why do you bother?

Mr Dando, you wrote:
'I say “The past can't hurt you anymore, not unless you let it.”'

And I would suggest that you seem determined to let the past continue to hurt you, despite having had, on your own admission, more than 30 years to confront your demons and to move on.

Tomorrow night it will be time to stand with me against the dreaded school shower that is still enforced in some state schools. Here is one offending institution!

https://www.whitburncofeacademy.org/school-life/uniform/pe-uniform.html

Student Showers

Students are expected to shower after taking part in PE lessons as it is unhygienic to remain unwashed after vigorous physical activity.

However, we would like to assure you that your modesty and safety have been taken into account when designing the changing rooms and the cubicles are for individuals. You will therefore need to bring a towel and soap/shampoo on the days that you have PE.

I say “The past can't hurt you anymore, not unless you let it.”

It is time to use the pandemic to abolish compulsory school uniforms, communal changing rooms, mandatory showers and gender specific PE kits.

Compulsory PE was only introduced in this country in 1902 after the disastrous Boer War campaign by the British. The inter-war response included the 1902 Model course, the school medical services and initiatives such as the National Fitness campaign. Although primarily
concerned about preparing young males for war, this era also saw a huge expansion of activities for girls.

Let us finally close this sad chapter on imperialism, colonialism along with compulsion, coercion, state physical education and training.

“Remember, remember the fifth of September of communal showers without reason and PE teacher plot. I know of no reason why the humiliating rugby shower season should ever be forgot.”

Your most fervent champion for children's rights. Mr Dando!

Josh H, I think the trunks vs shorts thing at the beach is more of a UK 'thing', yeah. Personally I prefer shorts, but we didn't have swimming lessons past primary school, either.

With regards to girls or women's swimwear - as far as I know girls still have to wear one piece swimsuits for school swimming lessons. In terms of the bikini 'argument' I've always thought of it in this way: a bikini is designed to be seen by lots of people on the beach, by contrast underwear is more of an intimate thing and usually limited to being seen by a woman's boyfriend or husband.

I think the situation is entirely the opposite for girls though - decades of enforced 'exposure' in the form of gym skirts and PE knickers has led to their normal PE kit being leggings and sweatshirts in most schools now.

Tom B, oh yes, the reversible kit. I think we reversed the rugby shirts once in Year 7, and didn't reverse our gymnastics vests at all in 5 years!

I found an old prospectus a while back and it looks like the vests were quietly removed from the kit list by about 1996 or so.

Having read the comments by Spelvin, I have given a lot of thought before posting my comments.
I agree that it may be that some people have felt that they have had nudity or minimal clothing forced upon them and so now want to protect the youngsters of today..
Also I can understand the other view. Repression or perhaps, forced modesty has lead to rebellion and wanting to feel more "free" to wear less. In my school (all boys) 1961 to 1966 we wore minimal pe kit. We all changed in one room and thought nothing of it. Rarely did a teacher come in, only if we were larking around.
That is all in the past. What I find nowadays is that on a beach in the hot weather many ladies wear minimal clothing and that seems to be acceptable. Whereas the majority of men wear long shorts or board shorts.If a fellow decides to wear something shorter or dare I say it swim trunks(colloquially known as Speedos) it seems unacceptable. this Although when I have been abroad the local men have no such problem with wearing trunks on the beach and in the sea and it is acceptable.

Yes my experience was the same, the PE kit consisted of shorts and a T shirt and for games a reversible rugby shirt was required. I found that uncomfortably heavy to be honest, particularly on a wet day when it just soaked.

I do remember complaining once if been cold and getting told I needed to move more. I was then given laps of the pitch. I do feel that was absolutely the right response from my games teacher.

The branding is certainly a money making exercise and initialling kit prevents parents from passing it down or selling it on to other parents.

Tom B, when it came to autumn and winter we just swapped the polo shirt and ankle socks for a long-sleeved rugby shirt and knee socks at my school. Although I was usually in the bottom set 'indoor' group for Games, I don't remember being too cold when we did things like Cross Country round the playing fields.

I agree that for regular PE lessons having the kit be as basic as possible is the way to go, ideally the boys and girls kits would be the same.

If I wanted to be cynical I'd say that branding and initials on kit are an attempt to copy sports like football and rugby, and of course this is now something that the uniform supplier can charge extra for when you buy the kit.

This is just a guess, but I betcha Mr. Dando had nudity forced on him when he was young,
and for that reason wishes to protect boys from forced nudity today.

If my hunch is correct,
I can't criticize him, because I had modesty forced on me when I was young,
and for that reason wish to protect boys from forced modesty today.

Adam, absolutely right.

All kids need in my view is a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, socks, trainers and football boots. Oh and a towel for after a shower.

That’ll do for all sports indoors and out. Tracksuits, baselayers, branding and initials are all totally unnecessary.

As I’ve said before, it’s the content of PE and Sports lessons that should be looked at in detail.

I thought you’d got the hint and gone elsewhere Mr Dando.

Please take your crusade to another forum.

Soon will be the school summer holidays and we must use this hiatus to call for an end to all mandatory towel requirements at state run educational institutions. This school still mandates a compulsory towel requirement but I am calling for a full frontal assault on the end of nudity in the school changing room.

Here is the website https://www.eppingstjohnsschool.org/43/standards-and-expectations

PE KIT REQUIREMENTS

Fitted black polo shirt from our uniform provider

PE shorts from our uniform provider

Optional plain black jumper / plain black jogging bottoms

Optional black tracksuit from our uniform provider

Rugby shirt from our uniform provider

Black sports socks

Training shoes (white)

Football boots

Towel

Points to Note

• Absolutely NO jewellery is to be worn in PE lessons

• All students are required to wear PE kit during PE lessons - even if injured or unwell, so that they can take on an appropriate role

• Students are encouraged to wear black base layers during cold weather for warmth.

Let us learn from our history and ensure our children have a better future with effective child protection. Young Lives Matter.

Tom B, I would agree with all of that. I feel that your last point is increasingly relevant these days.

A younger relative of mine needs around £75 worth of PE kit from my old school's 'official' uniform supplier! Even with the more modern PE kits that girls have now, I doubt she really needs shorts, leggings AND a 'skort'.

All of my PE kit in the 1990s was bought with 'room to grow' and in five years of high school I only needed maybe 2 pairs of trainers, and a replacement polo shirt and pair of shorts when I started Year 10.

By contrast the girls PE kit changed several times in the same five years. Most girls in my year chose to wear shorts instead of the gym skirt and knickers in Year 9 and then they had tracksuit bottoms in Years 10 and 11.

I agree re the obssession with "stripping to the waist". I am far more concerned with the content of PE/PT/Games lessons.

I believe all students should have a minimum standard of regular cardio exercise and strength training which can be competitive but allow students to make progress at their own pace.

On top if this I believe organised sports should be accessible to students who wish to participate. They can be encouraged but shouldn’t be mandatory.

Let those who have a desire to excel at Rugby, Football, Athletics, Boxing, Rowing, Climbing, Wrestling, Fell Running etc choose their path and dedicate their time.

All I will say on the subject of kit is that it should be basic to avoid expense for us parents. A pair of shorts and a plain tech tee or vest is fine for hard physical activity. Branded kit, tracksuits and sports specific kit is rarely necessary.

Pete W (and others) I have to repeat what is this obssession with "stripping to the waist"?.

Something else to remember is that "boys" these days some times have to attend school till they are 18 if they can't get a job or an apprenticeship. Most of them don't want to be there, and these days "boys" of 15/16 are more or less adults. It's not like the 1940s/50s/60s when the "schoolboy" left the institution behind early. MEN of 18 are old enough to drive cars, join the services or whatever - they are grown up. What right has some dictatorial teacher the right to instruct men to take their clothes off, if they are uncomfortable doing so?.

If it is a lack of W"uniformity" that s bothers some of you, I have to point out that plain white tee shirts look identical and can be bought for a very low price - why not just say OK we will stick to this rather than a variety of styles and colours?.

Just because we were forced to do things as 13/14 year olds or 15/16 because mentally lads matured later in those days, is no reason to force todays kids into it. Boys of 16/18 these days are really men, and these little squirts of PE teachers are not Brian Glover in Kes however much they might lie to think they are, nor are they still something of minor importance in the army.

Tom B schools should reintroduce stripping to the waist to exercise for a start. PE has turned into a fashion show. Vests have been suggested and are a useful way to have two distinct teams. It's easy to rotate too, every few weeks lads would be back stripped again.