Students at dozens of Sydney high schools have been banned from bringing a date to their year 12 formal under a new policy which also forbids parents from enjoying a glass of wine at end-of-year celebrations in the name of safety.
The new rules for systemic schools within Sydney’s Catholic archdiocese come after one of its schools attracted national media attention last year for ordering a female student not to bring her girlfriend to its formal.
St Ursula’s College in Kingsgrove overturned its ban on same-sex partners last year.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
Released earlier this year, the policy prohibits “external partners” from end-of-school events and bans alcohol for all attendees.
A Sydney Catholic Schools spokesperson said some leniency would be shown with the no-partner rule this year, but there would be no reprieve for parents wanting an alcoholic refreshment.
The policy applies to year 12 graduation dinners, formals and other events, as well as end-of-school celebrations for year 6 students at the archdiocese’s 147 systemic Catholic schools.
One mother of a year 12 student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said parents felt it was an overreach by the school to police their drinking.
“Naturally, there was a huge uproar among parents about being treated like children,” she said.
“What bothers me the most is the mixed message it sends to 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.’
“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.”
Many co-educational schools in the archdiocese had never allowed external partners in the first place, the spokesperson said. They will take on board feedback from schools this year.
Last year, girls’ school St Ursula’s in Kingsgrove banned a student from bringing her female partner to the year 12 formal but reversed its decision following a public backlash. The Sydney Catholic Schools spokesperson said this year’s external partner ban was unrelated.
“The content of this policy is not a direct response to media matters around school formals from previous years,” they said.
Addressing the booze ban for parents, the spokesperson said schools had a duty of care to staff and students.
“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,” they said.
Parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson said parents should set an example for their children by not drinking alcohol for one night. He said schools also had the right to decide if partners were allowed.
“It’s a year 12 celebration, that’s it. That’s what the night’s for. If schools want to say, ‘No, it’s only year 12 students and their families’, then so be it. It is completely within the prerogative of the school.”
NSW public schools ban alcohol, even for people over 18, at any school-related event with students present.
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