The UK High School Prom: An Adolescent Learning Journey

This chapter examines the micro-ritual of the UK high school prom, delving into the authors’ multiple published studies, to examine and identify key insights from understanding how adolescents actively participate in their journey to this event. The chapter explores how to use this knowledge to recognize the potential of the prom for adolescents’ skill development. It examines aspects of adolescents’ prom experiences by considering collective decision-making in social contexts, and Interaction Ritual Chains theory. It derives data-driven insights through interviews, focus groups, online discussion forums, and observation. Findings reveal adolescents’ development of diverse types of skills while preparing for the prom. These skills include cognitive, social and emotional, practical and life, as well as creative skills embedded in the mechanisms designed to create this event. Parents, families, schools, and communities facilitate skill development. This chapter also highlights several skills with potential for development (e.g., moral and ethical, career, and vocational).