What son should wear to open day!

[Nextstep123]

Having a heated debate with 15 year old about wearing chinos or his school suit to Brighton College open day. (Looking at 6th form). He seems adament his usual trendy trackies and hoodie are fine! Am I being old fashioned ?!?!?! We are really going to fall out about this so wondering if I should just let him be himself ?

Might suggest decent jeans and a polo? But saying that I think my daughter wore leggings and a hoodie to her sixth form open days. There's lots of people so no one will be particularly noticing what he's wearing. Different story for an entrance interview though.

Is Brighton College independent or State? Small and selective or large and open to many?

Smart casual.

Whatever he wants.

As long as he is wearing clothes he can wear what he likes. Leave him be.

Is he likely to feel at home there? He sounds a bit determined to have his own way. Jeans and a track top might be a compromise. Hopefully they will want his brains not his awkwardness.

Is there something special about Brighton College?

If it's an ordinary college I can't imagine anyone caring what prospective students wear at the one day. If it's some other kind of college this may not apply.

for crying out loud people

Google rather than asking stupid questions

Having done just that, I note that the a-level results photos have them in mostly jeans and leggings (one ripped jeans and one chinos over three or four pics). He may be resistant to the formality of chinos but open to wearing his hoodie with jeans?

Point out to him that he'll make a far better impression if he asks sensible questions about the courses he's interested in and the career advice and pastoral support, then hope the staff remember that rather than his sartorial lack of effort!

I've just googled and the dress code if he goes there would be similar to the state sixth form DS attends (and all the other local state sixth forms):

 A dark suit (best or day wear); sports jacket and smart trousers (not denim).
 Trousers must not be ‘skinny fit’ in design.
 Sober, smart shirt (must be plain, fine pinstripe or fine check) – dark shirts are
not allowed.
 School tie, or representative tie
 Smart black/dark brown shoes (not boots).
 Plain coloured V-neck jumper, not ‘chunky’, patterned or made of fleece
material
 Plain dark overcoat
 No ostentatious hair styles or colour allowed
 Hair should be neat and tidy, no longer than collar length and not shaven
 No piercings or other jewellery
 Boys must be clean shaven

The dress code at open days at our local sixth forms is usually less formal, but probably smart casual rather than sportswear.

It is Ranked no.1 Co-Ed Independent school of the year. Super impressive amount of A* grades but modern and appears less traditional than many. He doesn’t own jeans ! Grown out of everything and all long legs at 6’1. He doesn’t see importance of presentation.....I think I will let him wear his choice as a big open day, it’s not an interview. Just annoys me !!!!

You mustnt lve any where near me Ironoaks no state sixth form that I know of has any kind of dress code. It's pretty much a total free for all and that's the same for colleges.

I live absolutely no where near Brighton either.

I should imagine that they won't care much if you can afford the fees and he gets the grades.

Google Marcus Smith & his brothers. They went to Brighton College. A Quins replica shirt should do just fine.

If a school weekday then school uniform. If a Saturday then smart casual.

If it is during the week day he should wear current uniform, if at weekend smart casual, the pupils he will he interacting with (possibly giving him a tour will be in uniform/suit/smart clothes - depending on age. As will the staff - download the prospectus or show him the hard copy and show him the clothes -

I am confident he will regret a hoody on arrival - but it is more liberal than some independent schools...

Can't see why it matters what he wears if it's an Open Day. I doubt they will remember him afterwards (or if they do, it will hopefully be something particularly erudite he said, and highly unlikely to be his clothing)

All the sixth form Open days we've been to the students were just wearing casual clothes. Including the current sixth formers who were "selling" the school - despite this not being their school's dress code.