what to wear for interview at private school for DD, 11?

[greyfriarskitty]

The instructions say school uniform, but she doesn't have a uniform. Smart dress - which we would have to buy or more casual jumper dress and leggings? Or what?

I have worked in his environment. It's all about making a good first impression, so I would wears something smart- definitely not jeans or hoodies.

Sorry seem to have turned into Gollum- meant to say "I would wear"!

No-one is a client if they don’t get in. Not that lack of a uniform determines that, but if you approach it from a position of being determined to be different, you may not be a potential client at all if it’s a very selective school.

It’s about making an impression. You wouldn’t turn up for a job interview in an office in a onesie on the basis that ‘it’s confortable and what I usually wear’ would you?

It's an interview though not a group exercise - this child will meet one teacher for a short period of time. She might see other kids in the waiting room but I fail to see why the fact she is not in a pinafore and blouse will inhibit her chances of success. If she has an interview she has already done very well - leggings will not alter that but they might make her feel more relaxed. This interview is the school trying to gauge what she's like not how she dresses. They probably specified uniform specifically to avoid putting most parents through this kind of crazy thought process.

An sorry but any school choosing knickerbockers/capes as part of their uniform must routinely get reactions - they are attention seeking outfits.

Private schools are very interested in parents, especially if the pupil will be a day pupil. I would suggest that you get her something smart casual. Don't fake a school uniform-they already know that she doesn't go to school and doesn't have one. I would suggest a knee length skirt, leather shoes and a proper shirt with a cardigan/kable knit or something jumper. Keep the colours neutral so it looks smart but not too school uniform. Light blue and brown work well together for example. Make sure that her hair looks neat. Good luck!

ooh yes - a brown skirt will make all the difference

No the schools are not attention seeking. Godstowe is a leading girls' prep and has a traditional uniform from the day is started until now. That is nearly 100 years. Some people like continuity and tradition and the cape is brilliant. No-one is asking for other people to like it. I find it very interesting that when parents justify their own position regarding uniform, they also feel quite entitled to laugh and pass comments at other children. What a rather nasty society we are!

DH wore knickerbockers to school. I guess if that doesn’t toughen you up for the miliatary, nothing will.

I would suggest something plain and smart which would blend in

What used to be the"School of S Mary & S Anne" in Abbots Bromley had navy cloaks with red lining for about 100 years, then changed to fleece jackets because you can't get a seat-belt over a cloak - at least, not easily. They now take boys too and have become just Abbots Bromley School. Bums on seats is all.
At least the cloaks were collected together and sent to a school in Africa.

@didofido they still have the damn silly "board" hats though.

@SueSueDonahue - what do the boys wear?

@didofido caps for the very little ones, nothing for older boys.

It's a shame. Everyone wearing them would look better.

Some good advice here.
I confess my DD and I had a good laugh about some of the advice and what I wore to my equivalent of 11+ which didn't sound so different.
Maybe it depends on the schools you are going for, but at the SW indies my DD went for, they cared not a jot what she wore or about the parents. At the very most, parents got a hello before the girls went into interview.
Dress smartly if it will help her (like it might an adult going for an interview) - but she is not an adult and might benefit from feeling more relaxed. Dress casually if she wants to - my DD would.
Some strange cable cardigan/pinafore combo will stand out.
Good luck!