Burnley Grammar School

Simon, at my school the PE teacher handed out coloured ‘bibs’ which were similar to the ones with numbers on that are issued to runners taking part in marathons and other races. The bibs covered the upper part of the chest. One team could have yellow bibs and the other team red bibs. It was a good way to distinguish teams. Therefore all lads were stripped to the waist and everyone was always a skin and it was completely fair.

Hi Simon, I happened to be one of three lads in my PE group made to strip every lesson regardless of weather or indoors or out. I really didn't mind. What with also doing boxing stripped off too it certainly toughened me up. Did you enjoy being a skin?

Hi Simon, our mixed school operated an all skins policy. However classes with an odd number wore white shorts, even numbered classes wore black. No need for any boy to wear a vest or top.

Simon, We never wore vests for gym. Teams were distinguished by inch wide sashes of different colours worn over the shoulder.

To Rob, John and Bernard - what method was used to distinguish teams for PE and Games when you were at school? Clearly if every boy was stripped to the waist then you couldn't have played shirts against skins, which was what we did at my school in the 1980s. Although that was an effective system for team sports, it wasn't all that fair in that some boys had to do PE as 'skins' far more often than others.

Rob and John - I found your comments most interesting. I started at Grammar School in 1964 and only ever wore just a pair of shorts for p.e. and games. Things were much simpler in those days and I'm sure we were very happy not being made to wear more.
Most of us were a bit apprehensive about showering naked the first time but we soon got used to it and welcomed the chance to cool down and rinse the sweat off.
I too feel very sorry for today's youngsters, having to wear so much and being denied the luxury of showers afterwards.

Clare.At junior school I wore short trousers and I was looking forward to wearing long trousers at the mixed secondary school.
Uniform was compulsory,but boys were allowed to wear shorts up to any age up to leaving.
After some deliberation by my mother,it was decided I should continue to wear shorts to school,much to my consternation.
I always found the girls were much more attentive and didn't tend to mock or make cruel remarks.

John, it's been interesting to have had a conversation with you. Time to give others a an opportunity!

Rob, my Dad told my brother and I that he only wore shorts and plimsolls for PE and did cross country in winter stripped to the waist. Dad was glad that his sons were getting the same PE kit rules that he’d had.

It’s great that you’ve encouraged your sons to be shirtless like you, they alre of course confident about their bodies because of this. I enjoyed PE immensely and benefitted by being made to strip to the waist and have communal showers. Your sons were lucky that they went to schools like ours, the trend now is to keep children covered up all the time. I would have hated to have to wear a top for PE and not being made to have a shower and get clean afterwards. I think we were treated much better than kids today.

John,I had two younger sisters and there didn't seem to be any pressure on them to get out in the sunshine although they did sit out in the garden whenever I was around in just a pair of shorts. My dad used to join me and take his shirt off when he and I went to the allotment but even though he played football for his firm's team when he was in his twenties before he married, I never saw him wear shorts, although he told me when he was asking me whether I had to strip off for PE,that they had to wear just shorts and plimsolls when he was at school. At one time men rarely wore shorts for leisure and were considered eccentric if they did, but nowadays in the summer it is quite normal for most men and I always wear them whenever possible. It proves that we all get used to anything given the opportunity. Like me, you were initially apprehensive about being naked in the showers, and I too can't understand why some commentators seem to have a problem with their bodies.I am happily married with two sons, who went to a mixed secondary school where they had to strip off for PE and go naked in the showers and because they were accustomed to seeing me stripped off are themselves quite comfortable to follow my example.

Rob, my parents also encouraged my brother and I to take our shirts off when playing outside with our friends, we used to get some hot summers in the 1970s and 1980s. My dad used to be shirtless whilst gardening and liked to sunbathe and he encouraged us to leave our shirts off when the weather was good. My brother and I had to strip to the waist for PE at Primary School but there weren’t any showers at Primary School.

I was apprehensive about having to take showers after PE and games lessons at Secondary School, the teachers ensured that all lads were naked when they entered the showers. After doing hard physical exercise we were sweating profusely and it was great to cool off with a shower. The first time showering naked made me slightly anxious. Being made to strip to the waist for PE and have communal showers, made me a more confident person, and I don’t understand why some commentators seem to have had a problem with it.

John,for a few years before going to the grammar school,I was encouraged by my parents, particularly my mum,to take my shirt off in the summer when I was playing outside in the garden or with other boys in the road. Her mother suffered from rickets when she was child and my mum was keen to ensure that I got out in the sun and soaked up plenty of vitamin D.We didn't have anything that resembled PE in Junior school and never had to undress.However,my mum knew from talking to other mothers in our road that their sons who were at the grammar school had to strip off for PE so I was aware in advance and had no problem when I had my first gym lesson. However, I hadn't been warned about the showers afterwards, although a towel was on the kit list.I had never been seen naked by other boys and felt very reluctant to take my shorts off, but realised that I had no option and went ahead and entered the open communal showers. I soon got used to having to take showers and eventually looked forward to being able to wash the sweat off after each lesson without any embarrassment.The whole experience helped my confidence and it is a pity that boys today don't have to strip off as we did.

Hi Claire, That's kind of you to mention that.Some boys certainly had a lot to endure, but down south we got away with it much easier and I certainly never had to do exercises in the snow. Only once, when the snow prevented us from playing football we were sent on a run around the playing fields- wearing our normal football kit.

Rob, great to hear the experience of someone who also enjoyed PE and felt totally happy just wearing shorts and plimsolls. When exercising and like you say working up a sweat our PE kit made the most sense. After being in a hot classroom most lads enjoyed being able to strip to the waist and exercise bare chested.

It felt good if we got admired by girls and helped to develop confidence in our bodies.

Hi Rob, The boys had respect for being made to strip off in all weathers. We admired what they were made to endure especially during winter. The sight of barechested lads being made to do sit ups and press ups in the snow earned plenty of that.

MikeL & John,good to read your comments. I went to a boys grammar school in the years when secondary schools were mostly all single sex and along with my classmates spent PE lessons stripped off and wearing just shorts and plimsolls.We were made to work hard but said how enjoyable it was when the sweat was running down our bare chests, and the rest of our bodies, for that! I would have liked to have liked to have had some female spectators. However, when we were sent out on a cross country run we did have to pass the entrance to the girls school and more often than not there was a group of girls standing there and we always stopped and enjoyed having them admire our bare chests- all natural good fun!

re Washing.In 1973 I was always one to avoid mud and dirt generally.but was asked to swap my Rugby shirt with another boy in my year,this was just to even out teams!The boy was less diligent and returned it in right old mess! I explained what happened and was O.K. about it.Luckily Ariel had been invented by then! I thought my mother would freak out when she saw the muddy shirt.Can see the funny side of it years later.

Hi Claire,
I wouldn't have minded if he had, but the polo shirts they wore were quick to wash and dry. The rugby shirts he had for outdoor games in the winter were more of a challenge though!

Hi Andrea, would you prefer your son to strip to the waist for PE if there was a choice. It would save a little on the washing!

Hi Andrea and Pete

The girls go to a mixed sex state school. They do PE all through school in just underpants/knickers. My oldest is in year 5 and is used to doing her lessons wearing pants and no top and she’s comfortable with it. I’m perfectly happy with it too; at that age there's little difference between boys and girls and what there is is not significant enough to cause difficulty orncausenmenworey.

Hi Amy, is it a girls only school and is it a private or public school?

I also don't see anything wrong in young kids doing PE topless. Maybe by year 5 or 6 would be different if it is mixed.

Mike L, I agree with you totally the girls at my school were more than happy to see boys shirtless. Most boys myself included were quite happy to strip to the waist for indoor PE and some outdoor games. It was completely normal for us.

Claire, I attended a mixed school and never heard a single complaint about us being made to strip down for PE/Games. They enjoyed seeing us topless and the majority of boys preferred exercising like that too. Good to read girls views about something that was such a regular thing.

Andrea, my girls go to a mixed primary and pe is done in mixed sex classes. The girls continue to do PE in just their pants into year six (as do the boys) and bralettes and crop tops etc are not allowed to be worn. I know some of the girls’ friends are already developing a little, but I think as long as they don’t have full breasts there’s no harm in them having to go topless for PE.

Amy, do you girls go to an all girls school, or mixed boys and girls?

Also, do you know whether the topless PE carries on into Year 6? I would imagine some of the girls would have started to 'develop' by then.

If I remember correctly from my sons final sports day at Primary School, about half the girls wear wearing some sort of bralette or crop top under their PE tops.

Pete, you asked if there are any schools left who make both boys and girls do PE in just underpants? Well I don't think there are many, but my girls' school does just this. My twin girls are in year 5 (penultimate year) and they have t remove their outer clothes and vests for PE. I'm quite happy with this to be honest, as it makes my life simpler and also means the children maximise their time actually doing PE rather than changing into complicated and un-necessary PE kit. It was also what I did at primary and early senior school.

To answer Toby's question - yes, some boys were definitely singled out to do PE shirtless more often than others. There was one friend of mine who almost always seemed to be picked for skins, I have no idea why. But at some stage every boy had to strip down and I think we mostly just accepted that.

In reply to Pete, there was some discussion about this on Mumsnet a few years ago. One mum was concerned that when her daughter started school (at 4.5 years old), both boys and girls were expected to do PE in vest and pants. Views were mixed as to whether this was appropriate or not even at that age.

When I was at Primary School we wore T shirts and shorts or skirts for PE, but boys and girls all had to change in the same classroom. By the time my son went to Primary School, the girls and boys went to different areas to change from the age of about 8 onwards.

Hi Alf, The boys at school were aged from 9 to 18 but PE lessons were always single sex. The gym had large windows to let the light in so we could see everything. The classrooms overlooked the yard and field so we could easily see them strip. We had those horrible aetex tops and black pe knickers.

Claire, what ages are you talking about and was it mixed PE for both boys and girls?
What did the girls wear for PE?

I went to a boys only secondary and no one was made to take off their vests except for showers afterwards which were voluntary. Did you or the boys have compulsary showers after PE?