Head refuses to reward Year 11’s with a July Prom? Any ideas?

[Mom69]

My DC is in Year 11 and is nearly finished 4 weeks of GCSE exam papers - sometimes with 4 papers/day! The Head has decided not to reward them with with their Prom at the end of July! Parents have offered to organise it, and despite numerous emails the Head has said ‘she has nothing further to say on the matter’. She’s even done a u-turn and will no longer give them a last exam-free day of school together and is escorting them off the premises by 11.45am. I am SO upset for her year group, even last year’s cohort had a final day together! I’m not sure where to turn to escalate it? Any ideas? 😡☹️

@Whyarewehardofthinking that sounds really crap. You have such a hard job

If you want to organise something, ask people to contact you - give their form teachers a message with your email address. Then you can organise it yourself.

Our school hasn't been great about a lot of things, but at least they will make sure they get a prom. Last year did too, although it had to be organised for a lot later in the year.
They really have had a terrible year, schools handling of assessments has been so stressful, far more so than the actual GCSEs. Also a pp mentioned the cost - the students pay for it, parents supervise and not the school, ours isn't on school grounds either.

Last year's year 11 haven't had theirs yet. I think they're the priority.

At DDs school Y11 is a bubble so they mix freely.
No one from outside school is allowed at Prom so apart from staff at the venue m who will presumably be in masks there will be nobody there who they haven’t already been mixing with.
It’s at the end of June and a lot of the girls have already bought dresses, cars booked etc. Plus we have bought tickets at £40 each
If it does have to be cancelled it’s a shame but I’m pretty philosophical about it. Unless the govt changes it’s advice before then I am confident it will go ahead

@yodaforpresident Here in Hants schools don't generally have 6th forms, we have a variety of large 6th form colleges instead.

My understanding is that DD's school is still hoping prom will go ahead in early July, though I note they haven't asked for payment yet. DD has a dress but it needs altering. We will get it done and she and her friends can have pizza in the park in their dresses if need be.

I can see why HTs are taking different approaches, as the virus prevalence is different across the country.

The three schools local to me have cancelled their yr 11 proms too. It sucks.

Gah! Posted too soon!

It sucks. But it is what it is. You'll not be able to change her mind.

In order for school to do prom you’d need teachers and staff to volunteer to man it. Many won’t want to under current circumstances. So organise your own thing as parents.

DC high school are following over selves to make prom happen this year. Come Hell or High Water. 2nd priority after assessments for current yr11s, I dare say.

It's an outdoor partly under Marquees event, btw.

Think OP & other parents need to organise their own disco, though.

They really have had a terrible year, schools handling of assessments has been so stressful, far more so than the actual GCSEs.

THIS IS NOT THE SCHOOLS FAULT. BLAME THE INEPT GOVERNMENT.

And no there is no way to override the head on this. Many things in life can’t be appealed or taken higher. Sometimes a decision is final.

So organise something yourself.
Most “Proms” are completely OTT anyway.

Our school isn't allowing anything kind of marking of the occasion. Not even own clothes on the last day. I don't understand it.

I'm pretty amazed that any school is doing any kind of prom. If the headteacher said no, fgs leave it.

They’ve all been mixing in school- what difference will it make?

Do whatever you can to make it happen!!

I disagree with most and think that they should have something. Restrictions will most likely be eased by then. Done sort of meet or party should be allowed. They are mixing anyway.

A few good parents setting up a WhatsApp group and things could be booked and sorted to at least create something.

So many grumpy posters. We had a leavers ball many years ago so this “American import” argument is bs! It’s been going for at least 40 years in the UK ffs. Can you escalate to the chair of governors?
As a year group bubble I can’t see why they can’t do something even if it’s not a traditional prom type event. Schools educate but they also provide other things for enrichment and ending school has always been marked. Some posters have very low expectations of schools that don’t align with my experience of schools in our area.

@LubaLuca

^I said they aren't allowed to hold the exams in the hall, so you do know^

They are allowed to hold exams in halls as many PP have said, so you are misleading people, just because your school isn’t doing exams in halls doesn’t mean it’s not allowed.

Exams in halls are indeed allowed. It’s up to the school and there is safety guidance. Just as a side FYI.

Some posters have very low expectations of schools that don’t align with my experience of schools in our area.

Low expectations.

Fucking hell

THIS IS NOT THE SCHOOLS FAULT. BLAME THE INEPT GOVERNMENT.

No need to shout. I do blame the government, but there is a vast difference between how our school has handled things and how neighboring schools have handled things.

[quote Tinty]@LubaLuca

^I said they aren't allowed to hold the exams in the hall, so you do know^

They are allowed to hold exams in halls as many PP have said, so you are misleading people, just because your school isn’t doing exams in halls doesn’t mean it’s not allowed.[/quote]
I'm only talking about one school. I have no idea if it's the norm or not. 'They' are the staff in that school. Who on earth would I be trying to mislead?

Scouts have run online summer camps ! Year 11s that want to party could surely organise it themselves and at less than the average £400 each spent on formal proms. Social networking,Zoom and Deliveroo beckon. Would your local radio station run a Prom night schedule? If the youngsters haven't come up with something themselves, I suspect they are really not that bothered. If you want to mark it, what about a buffet party in the garden,with banners and a small gift for your daughter. You might want to look at the informal way the Swedes celebrate. Avoid looking at what the Norwegians do.