to object to this type of invitation?

Yes, sorry but your are being unreasonable. You don't say how old you GC is but having GC of various ages attending schools at different levels I'm only too aware of how some parents and grandparents dress!

Obviously, GC school does not want people turning up to this event in leggings, crop tops, jogging bottoms that reveal "that awful builders bum", low cut tops worn over "rack-em stack-em" bras, any type of soiled workwear, mini skirts that leave nothing to the imagination, onesies................the list goes on.

kitty
I would have read that as "there is no need to turn up in a suit and tie or your 'Sunday best'" which would come as a relief.

Although it's a fairly formal event, the mayor or perhaps the MP etc may be there , the mayor in his regalia, feel relaxed.

It is very patronising of some posters to assume that, just because some parents may be poor, they have nothing to wear other than scruffy eg vest tops and shorts.
Although people's ideas of smart casual may vary tremendously!

' Sunday best', Hilly, interesting

I have been to occasions where some women have turned up in jeans and t shirts or clothes more suited to the beach and others have worn what looks like a mother of the bride outfit!

You are being unreasonable.
The school is hosting the event, it’s their choice to put out a dress code. Why does it bother you so much?

Kittylester is rightly annoyed that the school is telling parents what to wear - plain and obvious to me - what a cheek!

Why does it bother you so much when you're not even attending ?

I think the school is saying "Relax, it's just smart casual, not formal even though it is a momentous occasion".

Am I the only one who thinks this?

Congratulations to your dgs, have a fabulous experience with his proud parents. I don't mind being advised the tone of the occasion with a dress code, it helps.
I am a mature (ish) lady who usually looks smart (ish) but it does make me chuckle on the occasions I'm in my casual attire and any signs of tattoo ink is detected the look of surprise and even shock that I, yes me, would have such decoration is priceless tattoo's do not a bad person make, via la difference.

I agree with the School Hetty why do you think it is a cheek? It's just a polite way of saying no Inapropriate clothing.
Some people really look for things to be offended by.

It's just a polite way of saying no Inapropriate clothing.
Or no need to wear a suit and tie and your wedding outfit …..

Whatever you choose to read into it. Not offensive though.

We should just give the school the benefit of the doubt. Does anyone think the head woke up in the morning wondering how they could offend parents? I am appalled by many things in today’s world but being appalled by this invitation is just sad and very unkind. None of us knows the reasoning behind the wording- why not just accept that there was s good, kind reason behind it?

Given that nowadays some parents apparently think it's OK to do the school run - or even the pick-up - in their pyjamas, I'm not surprised the school has asked for smart casual. It's not as if they're asking for suits, ties and garden-party type frocks.

I’ve been to quite a few school events in the last few weeks, mostly outside in hot sunshine, even the indoor events were very warm, with this thread in mind I had a good look around, almost all ladies, mums and grannies, in summer dresses, men in jeans or chinos with shirts, one or two dads in shorts, but still quite smart. But always a handful of people who look like they’ve just walked off the beach, takes all sorts I suppose!

Should news of this thread reach the school concerned, no doubt they will rethink the event, by holding it in future in school time with no parents invited.
I do remember a small scale presentation at a primary school assembly when one of the mothers concerned turned up in very brief shorts and revealing sun top, which entirely occupied the year six boys for throughout the assembly, apart from her mortified son.

for

eazybee - my teenage granddaughters were saying how much they disliked parents evenings because of the reactions of older boys to their attractive mothers. Nothing to do with revealing clothes.