What to wear for open days

[tangerino]

We're going to look round a few independent schools soon, with our son.

Just to check- am I right in thinking he's best of wearing his current school uniform?

Also, what should I wear?

Apologies for the shallow question!

[BeBesideTheSea]

Clothes. Definitely clothes

(you sound really stressed OP, I hope this makes you laugh)

[mickmills]

Fancy dress might help set you apart from the others
Fancy dress and comfy shoes would be my suggestion

[tangerino]

😂

[harlowcar]

I'm sure Independent schools are all different and have no experience of looking round boarding schools but....at central/West/South west London indie boys and co-eds, very few parents make a tremendous effort. When I looked round senior schools in the last 5 years there were lots of jeans and boots, coats, Barbour quilted jackets ....dresses and boots (it was clearly cold). In other words, leave your posh dresses and court shoes at home. The kids often wear their current school uniform, but otherwise smart clean casual....jeans/chinos, sweatshirts, jumpers...I don't think the schools really take any notice, and you rarely see the same parents ever again so I wouldn't worry too much. IMO there's a lot to be said for blending in rather than standing out (for any reason).

[AnotherNewt]

Prospective pupils wear uniform if it's a school day and you've taken them out for a few hours. At other times, uniform only if you're particularly proud of the uniform. Normally smart casual: chinos, shirt and jumper (or smart sweatshirt) for boys, same or with skirt/dress for girls.

For parents, it's the tidy end of day to day wear, so some in suits because they've slipped out of the office, lots in the parallel of what I've just described for children, fair smattering in jeans, and always at least one extreme hippie. There may even be some in gym kit.

Open days are usually a scrum. No-one will be marking your appearance.

How comfortable to feel in (a tidy version of) your normal clobber could be an interesting comparison between schools and the parents it attracts (not a key one, obviously, but part of the mood music).

[WaitingForMe]

To be honest I'd put the child in something warm and practical on the assumption that we'd be walking around the school grounds as sports facilities would be covered in the tour.

[mimbleandlittlemy]

All the independent school open days we did were on weekends so child in own clothes, me in smartish jeans, shirt etc. They are a complete bun fight so unless you do something SO spectacularly awful teachers say for many years after "blimey - do you remember the family that...", no one will honestly recall whether you were wearing twin set and pearls and your ds a school uniform with full military frogging or whether you were wearing something more casual.

Go feeling comfortable. If the school makes you feel uncomfortable when you get there then it probably isn't the right school for you anyway - or that's the basis I've always worked on.

[MidLifeCrisis007]

Pyjamas... obviously....

[tangerino]

Thanks, everyone.

[Crazy2016]

I saw a few poor children in uniform on Saturdays at open days and felt it looked rather odd! The schools will have no interest at all at the open day stage as the application process is really all about how they score in the exam!

[Michaelahpurple]

Definitely not uniform on a Saturday.

[BertrandRussell]

I understood clown costume was de rigueur.......

[derektheladyhamster]

No uniform. I work on open days and often tour children (and parents) during the school day. Only wear uniform if the child has just come from school. Believe me, i never notice the clothes