For context this article about what happens at a year 11 prom has been written in March 2021, approaching the end of Lockdown 3 and schools having just gone back.
It would be a massive understatement to say that it has been a difficult year for the current cohort of Year 11 pupils!
Due to the pandemic the significance of this year’s prom becomes amplified and that will typically be reflected in your child’s thinking.
For the most part, a year 11 prom is organised by the school themselves but there are a significant minority where the school doesn’t want to get involved and groups of parents get together to run them.
The scale and seriousness that a school, and its pupils, takes its year 11 prom varies massively from area to area and school to school, so these thoughts may not apply to your child’s school.
Everyone hires a limo or ‘posh’ car
This simply isn’t the case. The vast majority of pupils arrive in ‘normal’ cars driven by their parents. Sometimes parents will have, or borrow, a sports car, a vintage car or a top of the range car.
At some year 11 proms there may be one or two limos but it rarely goes beyond this.
That said, if your son or daughter is in a group who are hiring a limo it may be a bit churlish to deny them this if budget isn’t an issue.
Dress code
Almost to a person boys tend to wear slim fitting suits. That’s simple, just direct the to ASOS and hand them your credit card!
It’s a bit different with girls.
Going out of fashion is the stereotypical prom dress of lots of lace and frills that billows out. Far more the trend is sophisticated, simple shaped ball gowns. Here are some examples of these in-style sophisticated prom dresses here. The great thing about this style is that they can and probably will be worn again.
If budget is an issue there are plenty of stores that sell second-hand dresses, and there are apps such as Vinted.
If your child is a bit more ‘alternative’ then there is no need to conform to what others will be wearing . There are always a few people who dress a bit more alternative and no-one bats an eyelid as fellow pupils realise it is them expressing their identity.
Music
Year 11 is the age where teens are massively into their music. Get this wrong and you won’t be thanked.
I’ve seen woeful DJs that probably mainly do wedding receptions and 60th birthday parties without a clue as to what Year 11s listen to.
The students probably won’t appreciate a constant stream of songs like ‘Come On Eileen’!! Whilst a bit of retro has its place the core of songs to be played must meet the contemporary taste of the audience.
It’s crucial that the DJ is vetted and also that they are given a song list in advance of the year 11 prom. Lots of music will have been released since their last proms 2 years ago!
Food
Students don’t want a sit down meal. They simply want to mingle with their friends and have a laugh. If anyone floats this idea then knock it back down as soon as you can.
Generally food tends to be quite simple such as a buffet or barbecue. Not all students eat, or if they do they don’t eat much. Food isn’t really a big priority at proms which is a bit ironic as these are the same people who eat you out of house and home!
Photography
There is a good chance that there will be a photographer present taking and selling photos on the evening.
If you are booking a photographer then make sure you book one who specialises in printing photos on the night, has a full professional studio set up and isn’t simply someone trying to cash in on a year 11 prom.
Typical photo prices are £10 for a 9 x 6 inch print on the evening, and more afterwards.
Make sure you give your child money for a print and tell them to have a photo taken. If you don’t then it’s unlikely that they will have a photo take, it’s not mandatory like a school photo.
Additionally, if you want a individual photo of your son, or daughter make sure you tell them. Most photos are of friendship groups, not solo portraits.
Other entertainment & decor
You cannot go wrong with balloons and banners! Balloon arches and balloons on the tables are more or less the done thing for all proms.
Candy floss machines, popcorn machines and sweet trollies are always good options as finishing touches, and will be used.
To compliment the formal photography perhaps hire a photo booth for more fun photographs on the evening.
Drink
If you are concerned about alcohol being consumed at the year 11 prom then don’t.
At many proms pupils are searched before they enter the premises and often security are now employed.
Typically the teachers in attendance will be monitoring the prom for obvious alcohol use. That’s not to say some alcohol won’t be sneaked in but it isn’t prevalent.
The after-parties on the other hand………you should fully expect alcohol will be consumed.
They didn’t have proms in my day
Don’t say it, just don’t. Ever!
Once your child has heard it a dozen times from you, their other parent, grandparents and various other they will thoroughly fed up to the back teeth with hearing this.
Say this and you are actually undermining something of importance to your child. Do you really want to do this?
In summary, proms are fun for the kids, it’s an important time in their lives, and combined with the pandemic they will be really looking forward to them this year.
Embrace it yourself and make sure your child enjoys it.
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