Dress advice - Leavers Ball @ Private School

[Lottie4]

My daughter is on a scholarship and private bursary at a private school. She's just told me that parents also attend the Leavers Ball. Can anyone let me what sort of dress to wear, ie full length evening, cocktail dress, simple knee length plain dress etc.

What do you want to wear?

Can the school advise what would be appropriate?

What's your budget?

Solid Lace Long Sleeve Knee-Length X-line Dress Item Code: #1041426 £35.55 Purple

or

Ribbon Detailed Chiffon Dress £37.99

Look on the school website and see if they have photos from last year

If parents are expected or invited to attend then surely you will receive a general or personal email invitation to the event - which will give some indication of the dress code.

There may also be photos of past events on the school website.

(And the fact your daughter has a scholarship and bursary is surely irrelevant? Everyone will have their own budget.)

But do check with the school first!

Find someone with an older sibling, get their mums phone no and ask them

Having attended a couple of these events, I have found it tends to be long dresses, but keep it classy, not too low, loud or sparkly,never try to compete with the young girls, they all pull out all the stops and look stunning!Above all, don't drink too much, enjoy watching your child have a fantastic evening and be proud :)

^. What rockingthelook said - however, here will be a mix of ages, dresses and styles. Wear something that you feel comfortable in, book your hair appointment now and wear shoes you can stand up in for 5 hours.

I baby think of anything worse than my parents coming to my leavers ball!! (Sorry, not v helpful).

You must be very proud of your incredible DC. Ask someone what the dress code is. At ours it is black tie and the mums wear cocktail dresses or floor length or national dress. Anything goes and I have never heard a judgemental word from any one about what someone else is wearing. Enjoy a fabulous night.

The scholarship bursary fact is irrelevant - "ball" usually means black tie/evening dresses. Don't try and compete with the leavers - keep it classy.

I'd probably rock up in jeans and a t shirt as I wholly disapprove of private education as being so elitist that only highly intelligent poor people can access it via a bursary set up probably by some past pupil millionaire wanting to do their bit for the plebs.
Students in such nstitutions tend to do very well due to the great headstart they have had in life by virtue of being born to wealthy parents, having small class sizes so they can get more teacher time, possibly also having private tutors to get a place in the first instance and so on.
Maybe I'm tainted by working in a school in an area of extreme deprivation, where on a daily basis some kids get to eat a jam sandwich for lunch, literally have holes in their shoes, wear the same uniform every day because they only have 1 set, which we often give for free.
Our leavers have an end of year BBQ on the playing field, which school pay for.

I do hope that jeans and T shirt will be ethically made.

Is the school on Facebook? There will be pics there I'm sure, or on their website as previous poster says.

I’m sure the OP found that very helpful @Soontobe60 How DARE those “highly intelligent poor people” benefit from bursaries and scholarships, eh? They should be down t’pit, eating jam sandwiches with the rest of the proletariat.

OP, I would go long, but definitely avoid getting a dress from anywhere your DD’s friends might - the last thing you want is to rock up with the same outfit on as a 17yo! I would suggest taking a large-ish bag too as your DD will inevitably expect you to lug round her make up, hair pins etc.....

Have a lovely time!

At both DS's and DD's it was very low key. I wore a nice summer dress to bith with my favourite beaded pashmina and heels. Some dressed up more, sone less.

The girls on the whole wore frocks they biught from Asos or Ebay for nought and six and looked utterly divine. Who wouldn't at 18.

Should have added v elite schools most have heard of. Nobody really gave a flying fuck!

Also recommend looking at school website or facebook for previous years photos.

At ours all the mums seemed to be wearing full length or 3/4 length dresses from Monsoon/Phase Eight/John Lewis or similar!

Thanks for your replies and also the links - they're nice dresses. Already tried searching online for photos, and can only find ones of DCs. I might check with DD's HM as she's lovely. Although, I've met some lovely parents I often feel they look a bit more more stylish than me, that's why I want to try and get it right but on a budget.

Soontobe60 DD isn't at the school on an academic scholarship, yes she's fairly bright but there are many at the school with higher achievements. She was previously at a struggling state school and it was her who wanted a different education and experience and pushed for it. She's very focussed, hardworking, enthusiatic and I'm proud of her for not being afraid to push herself. I'm also very grateful to the parents who pay full fees which in turn contribute towards her education and fantastic experience.

Lottie4 - you really, really don't need to feel or express any gratitude to fee paying parents at your child's school!

Scholarships and bursaries enable good schools to attract pupils who bring valuable qualities to the school community. Thus making the place more attractive to those who can pay full fees. So award recipients contribute a significant amount to the success of the institution.

I would be sorry if your daughter picked up from you any implication that she should feel herself in any way 'less than' other pupils.