The School uniform

The distinctive uniform of Christ's Hospital has been its most public and enduring feature. It is remarkable that in this age of rapidly-changing fashions, the outer long blue coat of the uniform for the boys has remained virtually unchanged for 450 years.

When the School was founded in 1552, the City of London gathered up 'fatherless children and other poor children' and cared for them. They were usually filthy and ragged. The citizens of London generously provided smart new clothes for the children.

The early uniform was, in accord with Tudor style, very colourful. There has been much speculation as to why blue and yellow was chosen. It was thought that both these colour dyes were not expensive, but blue and yellow could also have been chosen to distinguish the children within the care of Christ's Hospital from those attending other charity schools. The linings of the coats were dyed yellow and their 'stockings' were always knee length and also dyed yellow.

The buttons on the blue outer coat depict the head of the School's Founder, King Edward VI and were introduced 200 years ago. These still have importance, signified by the fact that the highest distinction is the award of academic 'buttons'. Large silver buttons and velvet cuffs are the mark of a Grecian (sixth former) who, in his or her final year, has demonstrated outstanding academic performance in more than one subject.

Today, the uniform is provided free to all the pupils. They all wear the distinctive outer blue coat; the boys with breeches and the girls with pleated skirts. Yellow socks are worn instead of stockings (senior girls can choose to wear grey socks) and white cotton shirt with 'bands' (similar to a lawyer's or priest's stock) instead of a regular school tie. The leather belt is belted and buckled differently according to the pupil's year group.

The uniform is worn everyday by the pupils; although its continuance has been put to the vote, the pupils are proud to wear it as a distinctive feature and tradition of Christ's Hospital.