School proms

[Booldawg]

When did school proms become popular in the UK? I know its more of an American idea.

I left school in 1985 and remember there being some sort of 'do' but nothing on the level of a prom with dressing up smart and turning up in style.

[horseshoes]

My son left school in 1996 and then they were just called 6th Form Dinner Dance. They did dress up though.

[delphfolk]

when i left school u got on your bike went home and started work on the monday,no song and dance when u left in the 60s

[RAMONES1981]

In ireland we call them "Debs"..like a debutantes ball.been popular for at least 20 years

[emmie]

I can't understand this, having a school prom, its an American import, and honestly its one we shouldn't be adopting.

[sara3]

too late.. all the schools do them.

my daughter had her prom last summer (when she finished her GCSEs), and when she's finished 6th form, there's a Leavers' Ball!

[joggerjayne]

Schools have always done Balls.

Now they call them "Proms".

Isn't it just the same thing?

[B00]

Yes course it is Jayne....

[emmie]

Ours didn't, only sort of thing if you went to University.

[Eve]

Can't remember anything for us when leaving school or college - didn't do balls (whoever I phrase this it sounds wrong!) til uni.

[dotty.]

It started between my son leaving high school in 1997 and my daughter leaving in 2000, cos she had one and he didn't.
When I left Grammar School we had a sixth form dance and all the girls had ball gowns, I had my hair up in ringlets and a black and turquoise silk gown. We had to have ballroom dancing lessons in the dinner hour for a few eeks before, no pop music allowed, (1972 as well )

[joggerjayne]

That sounds lovely, dotty.

[Prudie]

I think I had a school 'disco'. Not even on the same planet as my daughter's prom. Her dress cost me about £200 and I felt like I hadn't matched up to other parents because I took her there in my car rather than the limos, vintage fire engine, horse and carts and even a tank that delivered some of her classmates.

[giveup]

At my grandsons prom some kids turned up in a helicopter.Him and his mate went in a battered old mini.

[Booldawg]

at least no-one had a 'Carrie' moment!