Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Flip

Original poster

Do school discos for young teens just not exist any more?

17 replies

PuppyPerson · 30/12/2022 21:13

Hi, I have 2 DD, my eldest is just 13 and in my Year 8. Obviously with Covid a few school things like plays or concerts etc took a while to pick back up, but they mostly are back now. But am I right that school discos (or dances or whatever we want to call them) just aren't a thing now? Is this a Covid thing or just a thing? I know there are 'proms' later on, I had that too after GCSEs and A Levels but regardless of that there were always discos, either at our school or at local schools, we could go to.local schools ones too.
I feel sad if it isn't a thing - I actually feel tempted to try and organise one if not.
It feels like such a rite of passage, especially when you are 11 to say 14... Before all the real teenage partying, drinking etc begins!
Sorry this is long - my main question is, do they happen for your kids, or no?

OP posts:

Starlightstarbright1 · 30/12/2022 21:14

No.. not my Ds.. by year 6 felt they grew out of them..

Saisong · 30/12/2022 21:17

We have a local one that was paused during covid but has just restarted for years 7, 8 and 9, though I think not many y9s go. Held in the school hall, run by a local youth charity.

Original poster

PuppyPerson · 30/12/2022 21:20

I agree that the primary school style disco is not right for secondary pupils, but at secondary school the discos felt 'older', parents weren't there, teachers were around if needed for crowd control but stayed in the background really.
Watching Stranger Things with DD13 and they have their dance at that age - I think it's such a nice thing to have

OP posts:

FawnFrenchieMum · 30/12/2022 21:23

Our school used to hire the local nightclub and have them there. We also went to un18 nights at local clubs but there doesn’t seem to be much like that for my teen DS.
He has been to a 14-17 concert called shutdown which is a similar thing but very expensive tickets!

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 30/12/2022 21:31

Just before Covid DDs primary school had a Halloween disco and they had a fab time. PTA have said they're trying to arrange a valentines one which I'm hopeful will happen. It's just in the school hall, music and squash but they all put on their party stuff and dance till they're red in the face and laugh and have fun.

leftitabitlate22 · 30/12/2022 21:33

Primary school yes but neither of mine have ever had them in secondary.

healthadvice123 · 30/12/2022 21:43

Mine were just pre covid no school discos in secondary ( just prom) but local nightclub used to run some under 18 nights

missingthewinchesterboys · 30/12/2022 21:54

Our PTA do a Christmas party for the Y7's.

Clarabellawilliamson · 30/12/2022 22:03

I think we did one for our year 7 pupils this year, but not older. Tbh everything nice has gone from schools, there are no funds to pay for drinks/ decorations/ dj etc (and yes, I know that these events are cheap!)

There wouldn't be many staff willing to give up their time either, people are on their knees. I would not enjoy an event like this with our pupils- might be ok in some schools.

It's such a shame, all the 'nice' things about school are going- trips, discos, after school clubs. Just a relentless drive to improve exam results.

Chihuahuasrule · 30/12/2022 22:04

We've had Yr7 discos here

EddietheEagle · 30/12/2022 22:07

My daughter's secondary school had a Y7 disco recently, they had it in October and it was a great icebreaker for the whole year.

MadMadMadamMim · 30/12/2022 22:11

I agree with @Clarabellawilliamson

People are on their knees and there is no money. Every dept is short staffed - Covid and illness plus lack of supply means teachers are exhausted. Anything 'extra' by Christmas just feels impossible.

And, I'll be honest. Neither pupils nor parents appear grateful for any extra work teachers go to - there is a huge sense of entitlement/complaining. I think many of us aren't prepared to add to an every increasing workload. Covid wrecked us.

UsingChangeofName · 30/12/2022 22:54

Were never a thing at school when either I was at school, or my dc (now in their 20s) were at school. Not by secondary age.

Original poster

PuppyPerson · 30/12/2022 23:33

I know staff are overwhelmed, I think a disco could (should) be organised by PTA or an external organisation.
What I'm still not sure of is, are discos 'old fashioned' and something from my teenage years that are just not wanted by young people now?
Or, are discos something that young people would still enjoy, if they had an opportunity to go? Are they an example of something that has just kind of gone because the virtual / remote / online / introversion-focussed way of things these days has become the default 'preferred option' over old-fashioned actual real life socialising?
Interested in people's thoughts!

OP posts:

porpy · 30/12/2022 23:40

I’m 30 and we never had school discos beyond Year 6

userh79 · 30/12/2022 23:44

I loved my high school discos! (30s) I only remember them early on in HS so not sure if they only ran for up to Y9 or if they eventually stopped (I doubt I got too cool for school for them 😂).

I don't think my DC's school does them, apart from the formal which seems to be standard these days.

FallonofDynasty · 01/01/2023 11:40

No, my dc had discos all through primary school but none in secondary, which seemed weird to me. Just had prom in y11.

There was a youth friendly club in our town , strictly no alcohol, for under 16s but mainly frequented by year 6 and 7s.

Flip