Group of RGS caps, including an early 20th century black tasselled cap with the double badge. ©RGS Newcastle
Uniforms
At RGS, wearing the school uniform is an integral part of daily life, a tradition that helps students feel a sense of belonging to our community. It's something they can wear with pride, knowing it connects them to generations of RGS students before them.
Below we explore the evolution of our uniform.
Introducing a UniformToday, our uniform is made up of different blazer colours for various year groups, ties, shirt styles, and a range of sports kit. However, this wasn’t always the case. In our earliest years, there was no official uniform at all.
The introduction of uniform at RGS can be traced back to our time at Rye Hill (1870-1906), where students began to be seen in more consistent attire, including blazers and caps. It was with the move to Jesmond at the turn of the 20th century that the school uniform truly became a defining feature of RGS life, setting the standard we know today.
RGS blue Horsley cap, originally owned by ON Arthur Douglas Millican (RGS 1927-33). [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/OBJ/1/2/4]
Caps
The RGS uniforms of today are similar to those of the mid-20th century, with one key exception: the school cap, which evolved through various styles and badging over the years.
The earliest caps, from the 1890s, were tasselled and badged with the double coat of arms – the Royal coat of arms and Newcastle – which were used by the school before the granting of our official coat of arms in 1931.
As time went on, students were required to wear blue caps as part of their standard school uniform, paired with a matching blue blazer. The caps would always include the RGS coat of arms badge on the front, and for many years house symbols would also be embroidered above the shield.
Ties
Ties have also seen much variation, with Junior School house ties, to Prefect’s ties. In recent years many ‘special’ ties have been produced for events such as the annual Cricket Festival. Some Old Novos may also remember the red, white and blue Junior School striped scarf.
RGS Stowell house tie (c.1980-2000) [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/OBJ/1/3/5]
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Wool RGS Junior School scarf, owned by A.F. Jeavans (1958-66). [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/OBJ/1/5/4] |
Blazers
In 1960, following the appointment of Headmaster WD Haden (60-72), the blue flannel blazer was joined by a black version for Middle and Senior students up to the Sixth Form. Flannel eventually gave way to washable polyester or polyester/viscose. Sixth Formers were required to be smart and wear ‘sports jackets’, similar to the suits of today.
A complete re-design of the uniform was made in 2001, prompted by the change to co-education and girls joining the school. A distinctive RGS tartan was created, and blazers were redesigned with versions featuring the Coat of Arms either on the lapel or the pocket.
Our current RGS blazers
RGS blue blazer, originally owned by ON Nigel E. Wood (RGS 1932-39). [RGS Archives, ref: Acc0236]
Staff and Prefects
Prefects at RGS used to wear a special ‘prefects gown’, also known as an Oxford ‘commoners’ gown. It was a black, sleeveless gown worn over their jacket. This was worn from the early years at Eskdale Terrace but phased out by the 1990s.
A long-standing tradition for RGS teachers was to wear academic dress - the iconic black robes. This was worn by Headmasters and teachers well into the 20th century. In later years it was mainly confined to formal events such as prize-giving ceremonies. Now, robes are only generally worn by the Headmaster at events such as the Lord Mayor's assembly
RGS prefect's gown, undated. [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/OBJ/1/1/1]
Sports Colours
Where we have seen the most diversity of uniform over the last century must be in our sport kit and the ‘colours’ awards system.
RGS has had colours awards in place for decades, it is thought they were first awarded in 1893. Originally just confined to sports, students would be awarded their colours for excelling in an individual sport at the annual prize-giving ceremonies. Today, we also award colours for the Combined Cadet Force and Performing Arts.
Wearing a colours blazer or cap would have been a source of pride for students. The earliest sports you could receive colours for were rugby and cricket, which originally had black, white and burgundy striped blazers. Cricket remained in this ‘venetian’ stripe design, whereas rugby became a solid burgundy. The ‘NEWTS’ swimming team had an early colours blazer too, a solid blue with cream trim.
By the 1950s, you could receive colours for other sports, though not a separate colours blazer. Instead, you would be able to sew on a colours trim to the edge of your blue blazer. Colours including white, yellow, blue and red, for various sports including swimming and boxing.
Explore our historic sports colours collections
RGS Rowing Colours Cap, 1953, originally owned by ON Timothy Goodwin (RGS 1944-54). [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/ONS/30]
RGS Cross-Country colours blazer awarded to ON Professor Peter Britton (RGS 1949-59), 1958-59. [RGS Archives, ref: Acc0242]
RGS Cross-Country colours blazer awarded to ON Professor Peter Britton (RGS 1949-59), 1958-59. [RGS Archives, ref: Acc0242]
RGS rugby colours blazer and cap, 1936-7, owned by Old Novocastrian Howard Davidson Graham (RGS 1929-1938). [RGS Archives, ref: Acc0308]
RGS Rugby Colours Cap, 1949-50 [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/OBJ/1/2/20]
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RGS NEWTS Swimming Club blazer, originally owned by Old Novo Frank O. Tulloh (RGS 1934-1941). [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/OBJ/1/1/5] |
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RGS Rugby colours blazer awarded to 1st XV player Iain Lumley for 1982-83, worn around Mar-Jun 1983. Memento badge attached to blazer, awarded by RGS opponents on the annual rugby tour to Sevenoaks School in 1983. [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/OBJ/1/1/10] |
RGS rugby colours blazer and cap, 1936-7, owned by Old Novocastrian Howard Davidson Graham (RGS 1929-1938). [RGS Archives, ref: Acc0308]
RGS Cricket colours blazer and cap, originally owned by ON Nigel E. Wood (RGS 1932-39). [RGS Archives, ref: Acc0236]
RGS Cricket colours cap, 1936, originally owned by ON Nigel E. Wood (RGS 1932-39). [RGS Archives, ref: Acc0236]
RGS Cricket colours blazer, originally owned by ON Nigel E. Wood (RGS 1932-39). [RGS Archives, ref: Acc0236]
Recent Updates
Recently, we have amended our uniform code to offer a greater freedom of choice, removing gendered language, description, or prescription, so students can feel they can choose from the whole “buffet” of options.
We also run a successful Threadaware scheme, where quality second-hand uniform is sold at a discounted price, with all proceeds going to the RGS Bursary Campaign.