One defining feature of Hampton School is its uniform. The characteristic smart suits bearing the School’s logo not only instil a sense of identity and unity within the student body, but also prepare pupils for the professional world beyond education.

Historically, the approach to School uniform was far stricter than it is today. In 1950, Hampton School welcomed the appointment of a new Headmaster, the Reverend George Whitfield. Under his leadership, the School underwent a series of changes, including the abolition of Saturday-morning School, the relocation of the Founders’ Day service to the Parish Church, the introduction of short gowns for prefects, and the requirement for all pupils to wear School uniform.

Recent conversations with Peter Hammerton OH (1964) have provided further insight into how rigorously these new rules were enforced. In 1964, Hammerton was looking forward to collecting his hard-earned Mathematics and Physics Advanced Level GCE certificates at the School’s annual Speech Day. However, he was denied the opportunity by the Headmaster, who informed him that his “hair was too long”.

Hammerton, who was a member of the band “The Others”, was understandably upset by the incident and subsequently reported it to the Daily Mirror. An article about the event was published, detailing the Hammerton family’s distress, as well as the Headmaster’s steadfast belief that the incident was not personal, but that “long hair is associated with a way of life that is not in keeping with an academic environment”.

Today, Hampton pupils continue to share a sense of identity through their School uniform. At the same time, they are actively encouraged and supported to express their individual identities and personalities while maintaining a smart appearance.