to object to this type of invitation?

It's quite educational for the children to see how people are expected to dress for occasions like this. After all Smart doesn't have to mean expensive, just clean and ironed rather than dragged out of the bottom of the laundry basket.

Isn’t it a sad reflection on society today that many parents have no idea how to dress for events? As other posters say, in the past both men and women tried to dress appropriately,
And even if clothes were a bit on the worn side, were clean and pressed.
I understand your concerns Kitty but think some really do need to be told about what to wear.

I think it's perfectly reasonable. Unfortunately, whilst most people do, there are always a few people who don't, dress appropriately. Most of us have seen the occasional mum in pyjamas at the school gates. And I've seen an overweight man in a posh restaurant in a vest type t shirt. Smart casual is a very modest request and wouldn't even be under discussion here if it were a party, the theatre, an opening or some other low key gathering.

Sluttygran - snap! I said much the same thing.

I wish a code of conduct, AND a dress code had been forwarded to those relatives at the graduation ceremonies who might as well have been watching X Factor contestants. They had no idea how to behave appropriately.

So perhaps the shock is that nowadays people need to be reminded how to dress for what is a special occasion

Yes, I imagine that's why it was mentioned Grannyknot It does seem strange to mention it, but perhaps on other occasions parents haven't dressed appropriately for a formal prize-giving. (Must admit that when three of my children graduated some relatives turned up in hoodies, shorts,, flip flops and others in formal dress, suits and ties, and some of the women wore hats. I did feel the sloppy dressers (who also stood and clapped and whistled as degrees were being awarded ) just didn't get the sense of occasion.

I think a prestigious building and a formal event guides me as to what I should wear. It does seem a sign of the times perhaps Kitty that the school wants to maintain a standard and the only way of making sure it happens is to notify parents. I have never seen it on an invitation before. (Congratulations too to your grandson. You must be very proud.)

Footie shirts? Hoodies? Vest tops on men or women? Joggers? Midriff baring?
These are not ok looks for a prize giving event.
Anyone who thinks that the school is being picky, needs to re-evaluate their own standards...IMV.

I always find it helpful to have an indication of dress code, and making this a special occasion for these hardworking scholars is giving them due respect.
When my daughter graduated from University, the ceremony was held in the city Cathedral, and you would have expected parents to turn up appropriately dressed.
Unfortunately there were a few in track suits and trainers - expensive designer stuff, so it wasn’t a matter of poverty.
The worse thing was that they were loud and disruptive during the ceremony, but when their own graduands were presented, they whooped and hollered as tho’ they were at a rodeo - in a Cathedral!
I’m as common and working class as they come, but I found this behaviour revolting and upsetting. Some folks have no sense of occasion!

I see nothing wrong in this for this particular occasion.

Kittylester I am very sorry to say that I have seen people at school events etc in what I would call inappropriate dress. I admit I am probably old fashion.

Perhaps - but there are probably more pressing things for many families

That was what I meant Annaram1 but you said it so well.

I know we have poverty in this country but I am sure everyone could put a little of their limited income or child benefit aside and spend a little time sourcing a smart casual outfit in a charity shop for a very small amount of money - if they wanted to.

I taught at a girls' school in Essex - yes, in some places it really is like TOWIE! - You would be amazed at what some parents considered appropriate dress to visit the school. The worst was a wealthy mum whose low cut leopardskin leggings showed that she had not recently had a bikini wax . Hardly surprising that their offspring looked as they did.

A smart jacket can transform a fairly ordinary outfit into a 'smart casual' one. In the days when I had to chair a committee open to the press and public, I had a selection of jackets in different colours that nearly always made me look presentable.

Me too Anna - I never walk past a charity shop and half my wardrobe is made up of charity shop finds. OTOH my daughter had friends at school whose parents would have struggled to kit themselves out with smart casual outfits and shoes if they hadn’t had a significant amount of notice, even at charity shops. I was so shocked at the levels of poverty coming from a solid middle class background.

Honestly - in the overall scheme of things, would it really matter if parents weren’t in smart gear? It might be nice if that’s what matters to you but it’s better to have engaged and enthusiastic parents there celebrating their children’s achievements imo than worrying about the clothes on their back. As I said previously, behaviour of said parents is far more important to me.

SirC, Once you have splashed out on a nice outfit at the charity shop. which is where I always buy mine, they last for years, I am currently wearing a dress I bought in a charity shop 10 years ago. I think it cost £4 and I have worn it at my 70th birthday party, my husband's 75th, and to innumerable social occasions and to church, many many times. This morning a neighbour came to my door and when I opened it wearing my now rather elderly dress she said "Oh, you look nice. Going out then?"
Everyone should have at least one outfit for these smart casual occasions.

I like a dress code - that way you know you'll be dressed right. Smart casual doesn't mean you have to spend money you haven't got - just that you take a bit of care.

I agree that the school could have worded it better, but then I don’t notice or judge what other people are wearing at these type of events - my attention is always on the pupils and their achievements. I’d be more judgemental about behaviour - wolf whistling, standing up to take photos and blocking other parents view of the stage, letting younger children run around while the pupils are getting their awards - and I’ve witnessed smartly dressed parents doing all of these things.

The mother who annoyed me most was the one who arrived straight from mucking out the horses, and said I wouldn't mind her walking across my carpeted classroom in her dung- covered wellies

That was probably my DDiL

Gone girl ,if I were invited to such an occasion I would definitely be in a cotton -or possibly linen- frock.
Maybe not a floral one though.
My Laurs Ashley days are over sadly.

Good for the school. Sad that it is necessary it has to indicate what should be common courtesy.

Interestingly, when I participated in parents' evenings, as a parent and a teacher, in the industrial midlands, parents arrived in suits, both sexes, and smart casual; the saris were a sight to behold. It was regarded as an event.

Move to the leafy 'shires'; the standard of dress was low, staff and parents alike, although the school uniform rule was closely observed. Some staff indicating their resentment at being there; the parents, indicating a faint contempt for the world of education. The mother who annoyed me most was the one who arrived straight from mucking out the horses, and said I wouldn't mind her walking across my carpeted classroom in her dung- covered wellies, would I. I wasn't brave enough to say, leave them at the door, and the odour lingered throughout the evening.

I think it is a good thing that the school indicated what dress code would be appropriate.I imagine that nobody would turn up at a Prize giving in tee shirt ,shorts and flip flops but someone might have thought that it would be the sort of occasion where a man would be expected to wear a suit and tie .
Maybe some parents ‘phoned the school to find out what the dress code was going to be and the school decided to let everyone know.
I am sorry but I cannot see a problem.

I still maintain it is patronising.

I have just remembered a sports day when ours were at junior school and one of the mums turned up looking as though she had raided Princess Di's wardrobe and hat store and wore a pale pink suit with a tight skirt and one of those small hats. No-one could decide which way to look.

It’s not ridiculous at all to suggest that there may be families at a very wide and diverse school who would find it a financial struggle to afford smart casual clothes for the family if they don’t already own them - even if they were to use charity shops.

Perhaps the school should have been clearer by what they actually mean by smart casual - it seems to have caused confusion on this thread. If they meant no shorts/vest tops/pyjamas/flip flops then they should have specified that to avoid confusion amongst people who obviously don’t have ‘standards’

Not sure about sports days BBbevan. I guess the days of ladylike mothers in flowery cotton frocks might be long gone.

I find it astonishing that anyone should object to a school suggesting a dress code albeit a very attainable one. It will be lovely to see parents who have made the effort to look smart for the event. To suggest that it would not be attainable for “ underprivileged “ families is ridiculous.
MM seems to have difficulty getting her clothing right with all the help that must be available to her. Jeans at Wimbledon ? Awful but at least I suppose they didn’t have torn knees.
Congratulations to your grandson Kitty, lovely action by the school.