What Do Male Primary Teachers Wear?
Posted by woody_19901@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 128 comments
Hey everyone. I am a 35 year old male starting my pgce in Primary Teaching in September and I was intrigued as to what other male Primary teachers wear to school. My wife is a deputy head and I know what the women wear is a bit more casual nowadays and was interested in other peoples opinions of what men should wear.
I like to think that I have a little bit of fashion sense and what can look good but I am not a suit wearing person. I will also be training in early years foundation so reception age children and think that suits wouldn't be practical or comfortable.
Any opinions on this would be helpful, even from those on the outside are parents bothered by what their children's' teacher wears (obviously within reason). My daughter is in year 1 and can say I have never really noticed what her teachers wear.
According-Let3541@reddit
If you are quite stylish anyway, what you wear will probably look smart even if it’s not a suit. I work in secondary, so a different context, but we’ve for a few teachers who wear very on trend clothes and look great as a result - think women wearing those smart tracksuit bottoms or Reebok Gazelles. They look very smart, even if it’s not really formalwear. As long as you think it’s appropriate for the workplace, go for it but be aware some schools are quite old fashioned and may have stricter dress codes.
Ambitious-Elk-3350@reddit
Grey tracksuit bottoms.
GrabbedByTheGhost@reddit
Clothes, hopefully
Tricky_Meat_6323@reddit
Depends on the school. Some are more relaxed and a polo/smart chino is fine. Others expect full suits! (Yes even when the women are in sandals and vest tops the men are shirt and tie).
naynaeve@reddit
At my kids school the male teacher wear half shirt with shorts. All the teachers wear informal clothing there. Even the students were allowed to wear any tshirt and joggers for PE days.
ThompsonMari@reddit
So jealous of women having undefined work clothing.
MissFlipFlop@reddit
Oh it's not always undefined! Ours is still suit!
Min_sora@reddit
How posh are those schools? I haven’t seen a male teacher in a suit in a regular school for years.
sv21js@reddit
Even for early years?
Arsewhistle@reddit
I've worked in nine different primary schools, and I've only seen headmasters in full suits.
Maybe it varies regionally
lankymjc@reddit
Your school will have a dress code. Pick whatever is the most comfortable and is within that code. Over time you can gradually be more casual and probably get away with it so long as you don't take the piss.
DependentRounders934@reddit
Wear this, the kids will appreciate it
AuroraDF@reddit
Our Head of Maths, who normally didn't visit the younger pupils at all, and who was a very tall Norwegian man, dressed like this for Maths day and visited the Reception classes. I was Head of Reception. I did not know he was coming. It did not go well. There were tears.
EldritchCleavage@reddit
My children were deeply disturbed by this character. But even more by the Spooky Spoon.
woody_19901@reddit (OP)
I am 6'3 I fear with the top hat that kids will think I am a giant. But 100% the white suit, just might need shares in vanish!
DependentRounders934@reddit
Dw, with the additional hight of the top hat all the kids all fear you and will never continue their game of bulldog after the break bell rings
ampmz@reddit
If you go for a black suit then you can terrify the kids into behaving by saying you are slender man. Just keep the kids away from scissors.
redseaaquamarine@reddit
LOVE the numbertaker
Free-Progress-7288@reddit
Chinos and a quarter zip seems to be the favoured attire from what I’ve seen
Careless_Soup_109@reddit
I don't see the point of quarter zips , why not go the whole way or otherwise not bother?
Jemima_puddledook678@reddit
Exactly the same point as a polo shirt.
pajamakitten@reddit
Used to teach primary and that is what I and my male colleagues wore. We had a lax dress code though, so other schools will be different.
LittleSadRufus@reddit
Same and on PE days they just wear sports kit the whole day.
Polo or informal shirt if too hot for a quarter zip.
shaolin_style@reddit
During seven years of primary teaching I wore trainers, comfy loose fitting trousers and a plain tshirt. A jumper or chore overshirt type top if it was colder.
Fade_To_Blackout@reddit
My favourite was my leather jacket- on break duty, one child asked me, "is it real leather?"
"Yes, childname, it is."
"Oh that's great, so when the dragons breathe fire on you, you won't burn!"
"Well, uh, yes, I suppose so!"
In terms of day to day, hardwearing trousers- corduroy, chino style, relatively smart. Comfy shoes, because of a lot of standing. And a selection of Primark and second hand shirts, because they often got ruined by kid's sticky fingers. Some schools I trained at required a tie, so I had a selection. Smart ish jumpers of a bit chillier.
Nothing too precious or expensive when working with early years! Not too tight trousers either, there's lots of squatting to be on the same level as the kids.
Check what each school requires, as some have different expectations.
smurphinden@reddit
Jeans, hoodie, trainers. Anything goes tbh. If you're working with small children, absolutely no need to be smart.
regulator202@reddit
Pretty casual from what I've seen. Makes it seem a bit unfair that my lad has to wear shirt and tie and all that jazz when the teacher gets away with much more comfy stuff
Jenpot@reddit
None of the male teachers at my kids primary wear suits. It would look really weird because the women are all quite casual. They tend to wear chinos and jeans with checked shirts or t-shirts. One is even more casual as he does a lot of the PE stuff.
DennisDunkdalk@reddit
Umbro tracksuit if it’s PE you teach
peppermint_aero@reddit
Suits would be wildly impractical for all that sitting on the floor, paints and so on
Jenpot@reddit
Yeah any kind of formal office wear just doesn't make sense, though it used to be the norm when I was wee. It's the same as putting five year olds in shirts and ties, I just don't see why they need that to paint and play with Lego. Thank god our school is cool with polo shirts and jumpers.
oohliviaa@reddit
My husband wears a shirt, trousers and shoes. He is supposed to wear a tie but refuses because it’s not practical working with younger children (so he says). Really, he just doesn’t like the disparity between what he can wear and what the women get to wear. Whether that’s right or wrong, he’d never get away with wearing a polo or quarter zip that other people are mentioning.
Tyruto@reddit
Go on Charles Tyrwhitt and look at their smart / casual wear. This is how I dressed working in a primary school
Ok_Scientist_987@reddit
Clothes! I hope!
BoopingBurrito@reddit
I had a male primary school teacher back in the day, he wore chinos in various colours, and shirts in a wide array of colours that always clashed with the chinos.
beant64@reddit
They all dress like Paul McCartney from the Magical Mystery Tour movie
Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit
My son's form teacher is a man. He wears a smart shirt and trousers. He'll occasionally have a jacket on when it's colder.
surfermark99@reddit
15 years on the job solely in juniors though. Firstly well done for doing it; thank you for joining the ranks of teachers. It's one of the most rewarding but brutal experiences that life can offer. You will be trapped by the salary and perks.
As for dress code, for men, it's far more limited than women unless you're a real extrovert and can carry outlandish clothes on pure personality (every school has one).
Typically I wear suit trousers (blue or grey) with a variety of shirts. Never a tie. Never a suit jacket. I wear brown boots in winter and smart shoes in summer.
In summer, I wear Chino shorts with short sleeved shirts.
On the colder days in winter I have black 'jeans' but they're made of stretchy cotton as jeans are typically against dress code. Again with shirts.
For PE I tend to just wear what's comfortable for the season, trackies/shorts and a polo.
Your clothes will get ruined and typically last a few to 6 months. Paint, putty, slime, food colouring, marker pens, mud, snot, vomit, poo, wee, blood will all go on your clothes. Don't make the mistake of wearing anything too expensive or sentimentally valuable
RestaurantAntique497@reddit
Klutzy_Ad_46@reddit
I am a teacher in SEN school and can't wear my clothes two running. I am covered in dinner, sometimes mine, snot, various body fluids as well as shaving foam, paint and glue. We love a sensory play activity. The male teachers in our school wear chinos and t shirts. We all wear trainers/flat shoes as there are times when you need to move quickly. One year I had a bruise on my foot which only went in the holidays because the children kept standing on my foot.
RestaurantAntique497@reddit
I don't think your experience working in a sen school is comparable to mainstream teaching and telling someone they will get shit and piss on them as normal is way off what most teachers experience
surfermark99@reddit
We have children that attend our school that are being refused places at local SEN schools because they can't meet their needs... These issues are very much in mainstream schools. Children cannot be without a placement, so they stay put. Ridiculous I know.
One child I taught found a fox poo in the bush, picked it up and smeared it all over himself bless him. He then sucked his fingers clean as staff manhandled him to the medical sink to clean him up. Parents refused to pick him up. So I taught maths while scrubbing shite out from under his nails in the classroom sink while he huffed his pooey breath all over me. That is still one of my favourite stories to tell. I work in a mainstream school. This was quite a few years ago with a year 4 class. I wonder what he's up to now.
Current_Fly9337@reddit
His parents refused to pick him up? That’s absurd. Awful you had to be the one to deal with the clean up but glad you retrieved a funny story from it.
surfermark99@reddit
The parents are BY FAR the worst part of the job.
surfermark99@reddit
Over the time I've been teaching I've had all of those things on me. Not regularly of course haha but at least a couple times each. I've taught Year R, 2, 3 & 4. Less of an issue with the older children. But still, glad I wasn't wearing an £80 shirt on those days is all I'm saying.
Current_Fly9337@reddit
This made me chuckle as my son had a very openly gay primary teacher and his outfits were fabulous. The kids adored him. Even on ‘serious’ days like parents evening he would wear a smarter outfit with outlandish socks that showed when he sat down.
surfermark99@reddit
I love this, I just have nowhere near enough charisma to pull it off myself.
Current_Fly9337@reddit
He was awesome. Taught those year 5’s so much about humanity, respect and loving life. I’m sure they also covered the curriculum I just never heard about that stuff 😂
woody_19901@reddit (OP)
I appreciate the answer and the honesty. I am so excited to start and can't wait.
Rude-Possibility4682@reddit
Jacket with worn corduroy elbow pads. Dark Jeans with sharp ironed creases. Clark's naturals footwear.
uneasy-chicken@reddit
One of our male primary teachers has a 'boys get sad too' top and i always love it when he wears it.
Glittering_Win_5085@reddit
Used to work at an outdoor place with lots of school trips visiting as a bakhround.
My ex has a pair of trousers that look like dress trousers, but secretly have an elasticated waist and are pretty much joggers. I don't know what this sort of trouser is called but that would be a good shout imho.
Basically you need to be able to kneel, squat, lie down and sit cross legged ideally.
I think a button up shirt would be good to pair with this because thats not going to impede movement very much.
reggieko13@reddit
No one knows as there are so few of them.however a lack of male teachers is not an issue and has not massively contribute to the issues we are facing today and is all the fault of someone else
Caveman1214@reddit
It’s a bit of an awkward one for guys, I’m in the same boat to be honest. I just left a primary school as a classroom assistant, basically lived in jeans. Kept pushing the boundaries on T shirts too, assassins creed, stranger things etc nobody ever mentioned it to me. The principal was in smart trousers and shirt, the other male teacher was in sportswear and another one that has just left was in similar clothing to myself.
Strangely__Brown@reddit
I used to teach and went in wearing hotpants and a wifebeater vest.
I don't teach anymore.
Coconutpieplates@reddit
Mine wore full suits, but that's quite outdated in a lot of schools now. Nice trousers and plain long sleeve shirt will do now its getting warmer. But usually there's another layer involving a fine knit ime.
Electronic-Bus-5350@reddit
Look at the models on the next website and copy them, like chinos and smart polo shirts, jumpers.
jumpy_finale@reddit
Have a look at organisededucator on Instagram
Sad_Cardiologist5388@reddit
Seems like male teachers are still stuck in shirts and trousers maybe chinos or whatever they are
Heraonolympia123@reddit
Husband wears a short and smart trousers (no tie or jacket) except on PE days when it's black tracksuit bottoms and a Tshirt
Tvdevil_@reddit
I'd say top button undone shirt and chinos would be a safe not-too-stuffy smart look.
Stuff similar to alot of doctors and consultants on wards - you know the types. comfortable to wear but practical in a professional environment
iwantmuscle@reddit
Wouldn't your wife be the best person to ask?
L0ngsh0r3Dr1ft@reddit
Avoid brightly coloured dungarees unless you want to look like a Kids TV presenter.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
From school drop off experience, sort of smart casual. Maybe year 5/6 in more of a shirt and trousers but not reception. Polo shirt, plain t-shirt, maybe smart jeans and trainers but more often chinos and shoes. The head wears a full suit.
Karen_Is_ASlur@reddit
Ask your wife?
AlphaAndOmega@reddit
A Jim'll fix it shirt
OZZYMK@reddit
I used to work as a primary school teacher in Year 1. Always wore suit trousers and a shirt. No tie or suit jacket.
Thick_Reality_5889@reddit
This may not be crazy helpful, but you could look up Gregory Eddie from Abbott Elementary (a TV show) and get ideas from his wardrobe
mycarefu@reddit
The quarter-zip and chinos combo is definitely the go-to uniform for a reason—it's smart enough for the role but practical for getting down on the floor with the kids. As a parent, I honestly just notice a teacher who looks comfortable and ready to engage, not their specific outfit.
Benreh@reddit
Stab vest?
X2epsilon@reddit
Just a jumper and jeans , ok I know some school don’t like jeans but smart casual is the go to. No ties you don’t want to create a barrier between you and the children you want to remain approachable yet professional and smart. Think marks and Spencer’s less next and prada and you golden.
BiscuitCrumbsInBed@reddit
My son's teacher wears chinos and a shirt under a jumper.
LondonCollector@reddit
Sounds uncomfortable and restrictive. What does he wear on his legs?
Away-Ad4393@reddit
Chinos
Acceptable-Sentence@reddit
Stockings
TwoValuable@reddit
Whenever I see questions about work wear that's not an official uniform I always think of that one guy who suggested a 1:3 rotation of seven shirts and three trousers inspired by cicadas breeding cycles and prime numbers.
It actually inspired me to set a more robust work "uniform" of interchangeable trousers and tops that lives on one side of the wardrobe and doesn't mix with my non work clothes.
Silver_Emu4704@reddit
Smart/suit trousers, shirt+tie+jumper, and white trainers. Hits the right smart/casual/practical balance. You could skip the tie and go smart shirt + quarter zip
SomchaiTheDog@reddit
Some of the younger male teachers wear really short trousers. Like they stop at the ankle. I think it's a fashion choice and that he hasn't just outgrown them.
Leather-Shoulder-674@reddit
Theres a male teacher at my son's school and everyone loves him i think he's in in his early 30s and he wears a shirt flannel or denim no a formal shirt with chinos and a white t-shirt underneath and loafers I think , I'm not dead sure on his shoes to be honest a couple of the older male teachers wear shirt and slacks
Leather-Shoulder-674@reddit
I just found a picture of him and he wears these type shoes which match the look perfect, not too formal or too casual
redunculuspanda@reddit
Summer is coming. Retro is cool. I would say wear vintage loose fit short shorts.
WBB3-World@reddit
I think it depends what the uniform policy is for the pupils, if they must wear full school uniform, then you should be smartly dressed, if they are allowed to be more casual, then you can also be more casual.
When I was at school the head teacher wore the school tie every day, never with a white shirt tho, and we were allowed to do the same.
AnonymousTimewaster@reddit
I was gonna say I always appreciated my teachers in well tailored suits, but if it, primary I wouldn't bother with that
Bethlizardbreath@reddit
We have a male three well dressed male teachers where I work.
One with lots of fun knitwear. He works early years and his waistcoats and jumpers are popular with the kids and adults!
The other two are key stage two, one tends to wear a lot of monochrome and corduroy, the other is a tailored suit kind of man.
Diplomatic_Gunboats@reddit
Something hard-wearing and easily washable.
Morganx27@reddit
My school seems to be much more formal than everyone else's, my male teachers always wore at least a shirt and tie with smart trousers if not a full suit.
Nervous_Yard7034@reddit
Depends on the school so best to ask what is acceptable.
For most, chinos and a shirt are acceptable. At secondary, these tend to be a lot smarter (suit, for example), but Primary tends to be a bit more informal. At my kids school, the male teacher dressed in baggy trousers and a T-shirt - though that is very informal and definitely not the norm.
The tip I would give is exploit the sales as best as possible. You want clothes that are smart enough to wear for work, but which will get dirty quickly and will need to be thrown away in a few months. A friend used to buy a new suit and clothes every year in the Next sale, safe in the knowledge that by next Christmas, those clothes would be ready for the bin.
Aggressive-Risk9183@reddit
No tie (ignore the comments and it’ll be too smart) - follow the advice that says chinos, shirt, jumper or half zip (if needed) and smart ish shoes. Schools generally have a no trainers rule (for women too). This is advice for state school btw. Private may have different rules!
painful_butterflies@reddit
Borat mankini, one sandal with a sock, the other sandal with no sock, a top hat and an optional monocle.
RetroRegretso@reddit
Standard is nice shoes, nice socks, nice trousers, shirt and tie. I see some more casual variations on this. Sometimes see nice trousers with a polo shirt. Schools are very cliquey so if I were you I'd peacock and wear your Sunday best to get a head start.
TAOMCM@reddit
Men would rather ask strangers on reddit than their own wife who works in a school.
karatekid572@reddit
We have no male teachers at my kids primary school. One TA is male but he is the son of the so called "family support worker" but he wears shorts, top and trainers. Apart from him and the care taker (who wears a uniform) all staff are female. It blows my mind.
MiddleElevator96@reddit
Fancy Dress. A different costume every day.
HarMonocles@reddit
You joke, but there's a teacher at my kids' school who will dress up for any kind of themed learning, world book day etc and the kids love him.
PsychologicalLayer57@reddit
Chinos or jeans and a collared shirt are the uniform at my kids' school. Basically the same as smart casual office wear, with a quarter zip for colder days.
Three_Steaks_Pam@reddit
Work in primary education, not a teacher but male; chinos and quarter zip is pretty standard for the male teachers I've worked alongside. I just wear joggers and whatnot as I do sporty stuff and afterschool club.
ihavetakenthebiscuit@reddit
Clothes would be a good start, otherwise the PGCE won't last very long at all.
lappy482@reddit
stueytrillagee@reddit
Been primary teaching 6 years. I'm fond of fashion too. I personally go for a this is England type vibe. Doc marten loafers (burgundy), blue suit pants and a chequered ben Sherman shirt. Feel it's relatively smart without going fully corporate. I've never had a qualm from parents about what I've worn. Some schools are very chilled and barely have a dress code. Wishing you all the best in your teaching career!
theNixher@reddit
"trapped by the salary and benefits" can you elaborate on this?
ArmouredFlump@reddit
Smart casual. Nothing expensive, paint, glue and sticky children's fingers destroy clothes. Don't wear expensive shoes.
Source: was married to a primary school teacher.
kitknit81@reddit
At my kids school there are only a couple of male teachers, they both wear smart trousers, a shirt and a plain, dark coloured jumper. Pretty much the same as you’d see on general office workers.
Icy-Contest-7702@reddit
Offices are a lot more casual than that typically nowadays.
EfficientRegret@reddit
Yeah I work for a bank and wear hoodie and jeans
Intelligent_Mine_121@reddit
Generally I've seen them in button up shirts and a vaguely smart pair of trousers. Some go more casual thought.
fayemoonlight@reddit
Judging by the comments I guess things have changed in the last 20 years as I only remember the two male teachers I ever saw in a suit and tie and women in smart casual
Tonybham01@reddit
Most schools have minimum standards of dress in their policy and guidelines documentation.
Matt_Moto_93@reddit
Trousers, shirt, ossibly a tie although there is a risk some kid having a moment will yank on it.
In the summer, on hot days, polo shirt and chinos - smart but less formal.
Suspicious-Water-973@reddit
Our primary has a good mix (well for primary) of about 30% men. Chinos with a smart unbranded polo shirt, shirt or similar, with a spare in your locker/car etc - foundation level is a lot of play, and a little glue/glitter/paint can go a long way.
Or just call the school office and ask them for guidance. They normally know everything and everyone. You could ask to talk with the other male teacher?
FourCats44@reddit
Long sleeved collared shirt, v neck jumper and chinos.
Though to be fair there were only three male teachers at my school, the RE teacher who wore this, the headmaster who wore a suit every day and the PE teacher who wore whatever they wanted
TSC-99@reddit
Chino type trousers and nice polo shirt / short sleeved shirt. No tie. Tracky bottoms on PE day. Primary is much more casual. Primary teacher.
Key_Produce2617@reddit
Suit pants, shirt and tie with a thin sweater.
Lynex_Lineker_Smith@reddit
Trousers
Immediate-Escalator@reddit
My mate used to be a primary school teacher and wore a shirt and tie with chinos and nice shoes, sometimes with a jumper over the top.
That was over 10 years ago though and at my daughter’s school all the teachers are wearing very casual clothes. It is a special school though so a big part of their day is spent sprinting after a child that’s dysregulated and decided to run off!
Cwlcymro@reddit
I worked in primary teaching for 15 years and only ever saw one male teacher in a suit. Most would wear a collared shirt with no tie or a polo shirt.
I've seen schools insist on ties and shirts, but rarely in primary (only happened to me when working at an international school in Asia).
If you're walking into a primary school to do a PGCE placement and don't know what we'll be expected there, I would go with a collared shirt (long sleeve or short sleeve). You can take a tie in your bag just in case it turns out to be a strict school.
woody_19901@reddit (OP)
Thanks. The school I will be training in only has 1 other male teacher so think it might be a learning curve for all of us.
craig5792@reddit
Your safe bet is smart trousers and shirt, tie for the first day or two until you get a feel for the school/see what the other males are wearing. During my pgde I certainly wanted to look smart.
I did this for a few years, getting increasingly disgruntled at how the women could effectively wear what they want and how if you had a vaguely active half hour planned you could just cut about in sports gear all day. Eventually I said fuck it and just started wearing dark chinos and checked shirts and trainers, nobody said anything.
It probably depends on the school/HT but in my experience the kids or parents don't care as long as you're doing a good job.
DontBullyMyBread@reddit
Smart casual office wear for most, unless you teach PE then its shorts no matter what the weather or if you're actually going to be outside or not (and you must always have a whistle lanyard no matter the circumstances). Or if you reach art, then it seems to be try and resemble a hippy as much as physically possible
Fellowes321@reddit
lederhosen.
flohara@reddit
Slacks, shirt, jumper?
Lonely-Job484@reddit
I imagine you can't go wrong with tailored trousers and a shirt.
If your wife is part of a school leadership team, it feels like in your position I'd ask her rather than a bunch of rando's on the interweb.
woody_19901@reddit (OP)
I did and the answer wasn't particularly helpful. Her head teacher is Male so chinos and smart shirt seems to be the consensus.
Ok-Cold3937@reddit
A matadors outfit.
No_Preference9093@reddit
It will depend slightly on the school. For some, smartish chinos, shirt and jumper will be fine. Some you might even get away with a smart well fitting polo. A number will expect full suits though, regardless of what the women wear.
Wait-Whos-Joe@reddit
Snart casual probably, cant go wrong with chinos and a quarter zip
TheBrightestSunshine@reddit
Primary teacher here. I wear a suit with a polo shirt or open collar shirt. No tie.
OneDay_OneLife@reddit
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