‘Huge uproar’: Dates banned from Sydney Catholic high school formals

Dozens of students at Sydney’s Catholic high schools have been banned from taking a date to their year 12 formal under a new policy.

Dozens of students at Sydney’s Catholic high schools have been banned from bringing a date to their year 12 formal under a new policy, sparking “huge uproar”.

Under the rules, which apply to the 147 systemic schools within the city’s Catholic archdiocese, parents will also be forbidden from drinking alcohol at end-of-year celebrations.

Released earlier this year, the policy applies to year 12 graduation dinners, formals and other events, as well as end-of-school celebrations for year 6 students.

“As a school system we have a duty of care to our staff and students at any school event,” a Sydney Catholic Schools spokesperson told news.com.au.

“The prohibition of alcohol at school events is consistent with our code of conduct. The focus of these events is on celebration of our students, their school lives, friendships and achievements. We do not believe that alcohol is a necessary part of any school event or celebration.”

As for the exclusion of “external” partners at end-of-school celebrations, many of the archdiocese’s co-ed schools never allowed for them in the first place, the spokesperson said, and historically only been allowed to bring “students from within their community”.

Given it’s the first time the policy has been “articulated consistently” across all schools, there will be some leniency where dates are concerned.

“The implementation will be considered with feedback from our school leaders and communities for 2025,” the spokesperson said.

They said the ban on external partners is unrelated to a situation last year at one of its schools, St Ursula’s College in Kingsgrove. The institution made national headlines when it prohibited a year 12 student from bringing her female partner to her formal, later backflipping on the decision following public backlash.

“The content of this policy is not a direct response to media matters around school formals from previous years, but was a response to the call in those matters for a system position on milestone events,” the spokesperson said.

“Sydney Catholic Schools has articulated a consistent position which prioritises the health, safety and risk mitigation of any school organised event and ensures that our students and a celebration of their education is at the centre of any school organised function.”

St Ursula's College in Kingsgrove made headlines last year when it banned same-sex partners. The move was later overturned. Picture: Supplied

Where the alcohol ban is concerned, one mother of a year 12 student, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Sydney Morning Herald there had “naturally” been “huge uproar among parents about being treated like children”.

“What bothers me the most is the mixed message it sends our children. On one hand, they are saying, ‘Well done, students, you have finished your formal schooling; go into the big wide world that we have prepared you for as adults’,” she said.

“But this new policy basically (says) they have no trust in you, or your parents, or teachers to behave, in case we taint their precious reputation.”

Alcohol is also prohibited at all NSW public school-related events where students are present, even for attendees aged over 18.