‘School Prom’ for 11 year olds - ridiculous or not?

[Keeponkeepigon]

Hello everyone, looking for some perspective.
My child is in year 6 and a group of parents have started to plan a party/prom for later on in the year. They have predicted the party will cost £3000! With a ticket cost of £30 and any shortfall to be made up by fundraising at our school. Selling ice creams to other children when the weather improves. It has been suggested that this prom should be very special and ‘a coming of age event’. The parents are trying to organise a disco with sit down meal for 75 children with perhaps a surf simulator at a hotel. Any criticism of, or suggestions for the event have been met with passive aggressive retorts i.e ‘well, what would your sons idea of a good evening be’. Do you think this event and the cost is unreasonable or is this event similar to anything your child has attended when leaving school? Thanks in advance

Just one more voice adding to the 'completely ridiculous' .
I think one of ours had a disco in the school hall - others had other sort of parties organised by the school.

I would also question the ethics of fundraising at school for a party that is ridiculous and only open to Yr6s. Surely any fundraising at school need to be for the benefit of the school / dc at the school (or for a worthy charitable cause).

Prom is ridiculous. So is £30 a ticket!
£5 a ticket, a disco in the school hall would be fine!

I’ve had this with my yr 6 daughter too. £30 per child to consist of venue, food, disco, bus to the venue (but not back) T-shirt’s and other stuff. The other thing that annoys me is calling it a prom!! It’s a leavers party and these kids are 10 & 11.

When I did question their thinking, I was shot
down with them telling me how special it would be and how they wanted to treat them a little more grown up ( while they are all wringing their hands that they just can’t cope with their little darlings going to high school in September ). No-one else is allowed an opinion it seems?

Limos and hummers were mentioned which is absolutely ridiculous and over the top. Thankfully they are not an option now as the bus is in place.

Drives me insane. It’s more about the parents and what **they want rather than the kids.

I couldn’t even imagine the discussion around a sit down meal.

The photos in the local paper thing is tradition around here.. as is p1 photos in the paper (each class at each local primary school in the first few weeks of term). I’m guessing where there are CP concerns then that child doesn’t take part / sits on the end and gets cropped out.

My son had a prom year 6. They had a sit down meal and disco think it was £12.

No need for £30 event

OP I feel so strongly about this!
All dc at or have been same school.
First dc year 6 was a school assembly and school disco both appropriate and age appropriate. Just right.
Next dc school assembly which was lovely but v. V. Nostalgic and upsetting. Videos singing all sorts.
Both parents and kids crying.
School disco in the hall again. I agree with this. Was just enough i think.
However this time, parents had also organised a prom. Not appropriate I think and kind of makes school disco look shit. And let's get it over for the real party . All wrong. School disco just enough and perfect.
However all the kids wanted it, including my dc and it was v. Cheap money wise.
Also several limos arranged to collect dc from school to venue. Still not a huge cost.
Most boys wore suits and girls dresses ,though not all.
It was really nice and age appropriate but not appropriate iyswim??
Just too much.
It was all such an emotional day for me(I cried so much and still think about it) and many if not most of the children were so upset.
I can't explain it but it was heart wrenching.
When I hear of little send offs in the school or village hall im envious. Still got younger dc and it will probably be prom again.
Please save the big grown up stuff to leaving school or 6th form.

My sons school have a leavers dance. It is all paid for by the PTA. It is in the school hall and is a great evening and the children love it. It’s the major fundraising focus of the PTA and the ethos is when it’s every p7s turn they’ll all get a great send off. There’s a band, photo booth, food, drinks, cakes, the hall all decorated and the kids/parents don’t pay a penny. Sure some kids come in limos but many don’t and of course you need something to wear but again there’s a mix of kids dressed up and those just in smart but probably just their ordinary clothes. I think it’s lovely and an appropriate send off and no one is excluded due to cost

11yos are happy with sandwiches, crisps, and a cheap (free if a parent can do it) disco in the school hall.

No need for any costs if each parent can provide a bit of food on the day.