Visiting private primary schools - do fathers wear suits at school tours?

[Lily7050]

We have booked visits to private primary schools this September-October.
Child's father is wondering whether children's fathers usually wear suits at school tours?

@Malin52

Chinos?! Do people still wear them?

I said chinos but actually dhs are jeans but sandy coloured cotton iyswim

Dh would be mortally offended if he knew I'd said chinos

I imagine that as long as you can pay they don’t really care one way or another

As everyone said - wear whatever. Just norma, everyday clothes. If that's a suit, sure. If it's not then no.

We just wore jeans and my husband a shirt

Eh? This is bonkers unless you're looking at top preps who want to relieve you at least 20k a year in primary.

@idontlikealdi

Eh? This is bonkers unless you're looking at top preps who want to relieve you at least 20k a year in primary.

Even then if you turned up all dressed up you'd look silly.

Thanks everyone! All clear.

Suits obligatory at private schools.
Tracksuits at state schools.

Seriously

@Malin52

Chinos?! Do people still wear them?

Chinos and pastel shirts frequently spotted, yes!

You can wear what you like op. If the school is auditioning parents, and you wouldn't pass as you are, do NOT send your child, they'll be bloody miserable.

Some schools may ‘choose the parents’, but if they do, do you actually want to send your dc to a school that judges you on what you wear?

I’ve been to a fair few open days/interviews with heads, both primary and secondary, and doubt I’ve ever worn anything g other than jeans and a top/jumper. My dc have always got into the schools I wanted.

Oh, actually, one school did reject dd on the basis of her SN. I was pleased that they had identified themselves as somewhere I wouldn’t want her to be, and cheerfully crossed them off the list (I expect I wore jeans then too, but it really was t that that put the school off!)

Just got back from DD’s meet the teacher at her school, quite a popular one in London too, and amongst the chaps there was a few pairs of chinos but I’d say jeans outnumbered. Also, shocker horror, several hoodies.

@Malin52

Chinos?! Do people still wear them?

Red is the compulsory colour for independent

@Lily7050

Thanks *@Darkchocolateandcoffee* :) Well, I have read some schools "choose" parents as well.

By the size of their wallets and charitable donations

We did have a parent turn up drinking a can of monster wearing a cap with the word 'Twat' on it once. I wouldn't recommend that to be fair. Otherwise I have no recollection of what any other parent has worn for a school visit.

At my school it varies, but it's more about what else the parent is doing on the day than specifically wearing a suit for the tour. Many parents come during work hours, taking time out during the day. These will often come in work attire, so yes - some parents come in suits, some come in casual attire. We've had everything from three piece suits to gym wear, and everything in between.

@olderthanilookapparently

I imagine it depends if you are going to a fee paying school or not really a normal primary school just wear what you want

Even at fee paying my experience was a variety - again, more dependent on whether the parent was at work that day or not.

I think Mark Zuckerberg has done as all a favour here - I've been on 3 lots of school tours, primary and secondary so 8 in total, 3 or 4 schools each and I can confidently tell you that they have got less and less formal so it's perfectly fine to go casual nowadays as they can never quite rule out that you might be a tech millionaire!

In reality most people go smart casual, with a few outliers in suits and tie (maybe on way to work) and a few like my other half in jeans and a hoodie (WFH scruffy IT guy). No correlation bwith places offered I don't believe. I'd say personality, of both parents and the kids, is more what is being judged.

We wore suits because we had come from work. Other schools we just wore normal clothes. There was one dad dressed like he’d just stepped off his yacht though.

6 and 2 to go in fact, luckily not me taking the maths exam

Bit try hard, OP

Wear what you want 🙄

My husband wore a suit but he was on the way to a meeting

DH wore shorts and a polo neck tshirt.

He’s now a governor so it can’t have made a difference.

That’s a bit unfair Ella I think the OP is just unfamiliar with the system and trying to do her best to ensure her child gets a place.

I remember my Dad and I being interviewed by a couple of the schools we applied to when I was a child. I think he was in a suit because the interviews were in the middle of the day and he was going back to work. The tours were in the evening so he probably wore his casual clothes.

Top hat and tails just to be on the safe side.

I’m not being horrible at all - but like a pp said - you’re interviewing them not the other way around. Too much self importance striding about in many of these school. Our headteacher is the most pompous person I’ve ever met.

These places let anybody in if you show them the readies.

Forget about the lacrosse sticks and boaters - at the end of the day you’re the customer. They should be impressing you.