SCHOOL proms are a rite of passage these days, but only a few decades ago they weren’t so common in the UK and were generally more associated with American colleges.

While USA high school yearbooks did not start covering proms and including prom pictures until the 1930s and 1940s, historians believe proms may have existed at colleges as early as the late 1800s.

Scroll through our gallery of pictures above to see more...

The journal of a male student at Amherst College, Massachusetts, in 1894, recounts an invitation and trip to an early prom at neighbouring Smith College for women.

Isle of Wight County Press: Ryde Island Innovation VI Form Prom at Ryde Castle July 2017. From left, Izzy Pett with Frances Garth, Roisin Clarke, Jessica Mann, Bryan Freebrey, Joe Murray, Emily Hibberd, Lucy Dayman.

Island Innovation VI Form Prom at Ryde Castle, July 2017.

Proms today are an iconic, integral part of the secondary school or college experience and they come complete with stretch limos, fancy ballrooms, live bands, kings and queens and gorgeous dresses.

Have you got memories and pictures from your school prom? If so, we would love you to share them with us! Simply click on the submissions box below and fill in our online form.