A Brisbane student says her school asked girls to submit photos of their formal dresses for “approval” after giving them an “outdated” booklet outlining the event’s dress code.
Guardian Australia has seen an email sent by Brisbane’s Mary MacKillop college on 17 May, a week before the year 12 mid-year formal asking students to submit photos of their planned attire.
“The HOHs [heads of houses] haven’t seen or approved everyone’s outfit for the night … so please submit a photo of your dress or suit on the Microsoft Form below so we have all your photos in one spot to check,” the email read.
The student alleged if dresses weren’t approved by the Catholic girls’ school “they needed to be changed” in the days leading up to the formal “even if money was spent on another dress”.
But the college told the Courier Mail that “there was no process in place to approve dresses”.
“I know many students were worried to show the heads of houses or teachers in case they were declined,” the student said. “Once the night commenced … no one was turned away, from my knowledge.
“One of the biggest confusions for me is how ‘all girls’ schools are more controlling of what the students wear, compared to being invited by an ‘all boys’ school where there is no dress code for partners.”
A Brisbane Catholic education spokesperson told the Courier Mail the Mary MacKillop college formal was an “outstanding success” with “Year 12 students gathering for their celebratory evening both beautifully dressed and beautifully behaved.”
“The evening went without incident. As happens every year, students were provided an information guide to the school formal,” the spokesperson said.
The email came after booklets were handed to students before the formal which included a list of dos and don’ts, including “no plunging necklines or low backs below the waist”.
The booklet also said “adherence to the dress code is essential” and the college “reserves the right to ask students and their guests to make amendments to their attire prior to the night and … on the night of the formal.”
A former student said a similar booklet had been given out before last year’s formal, with the dress code enforced strictly on the night, which resulted in some students having “a few issues getting their dresses approved due to cleavage”.
“The [college was] telling girls they would need to buy shawls and if they didn’t want to buy one then they would have them provided at the venue if their dress was deemed too revealing,” the former student said.
The school has been contacted for comment.
Guardian Australia has also spoken to two other parents and a student at another private school who said students had been asked to submit photos of their formal outfits.
One former student at Highlands Christian college in Toowoomba said the school did not allow him to wear a dress to his year 12 formal last year.
“My original plan was to show up and surprise everyone but I was afraid they’d kick me out of the formal … so I asked beforehand,” the former student said. “They said no.
He said he believed it was because the school “thought it’s too controversial”.
The student said he had already paid $300 for the dress, so the school offered to pay half the cost of his suit.
“It’s very nerve-racking to go against the social norms of your gender,” he said.
A parent, whose daughter was going to attend the school’s formal with the student while wearing a suit, confirmed the student’s plans had been knocked back by the school.
“My daughter is very caring and likes to be inclusive of others. So she was upset,” the parent said. “She didn’t want to go but I talked her into it.
“All girls did look elegant but some certainly wanted to wear something more to their own personality.”
Guardian Australia has contacted Highlands Christian college for comment.
The state’s education minister, Grace Grace, said public schools work closely “with their wider school community about the type of dress required” at events such as formals. “This should take into account a range of things such as the activities to be carried out and any health and safety issues, but should never be about a student’s gender, size, or sexual orientation,” Grace said.
