Secondary school SHOES

Three DS, youngest in yr7 and never had any issue with standard Clark lace-ups. Living in a small town has it's advantages.

Noddy

DD is after a pair of brogues (Clarkes!) for next year - Y8. Plus her Kickers should still fit. Both are sensible AND regarded as fashionable at her school. She has been very happy with a pair of (Clarkes velcro) Mary Janes this year, and may even opt for a similar pair by the end of the hols!

DS who is still only in Primary is FAR more label-conscious and will only wear either certain trainers or Kickers. Very expensive as he wears shoes out very quickly.

1st year clarks or equivalent
1st year xmas tantrum re clarks etc
2nd yr onwards argument twice a year
5th year give up

Our school won't accept slip in shoes. Must have a strap

back to shoes just a note of caution regarding the type of shoe, all the school I have worked at have come down hard on shoes. Boots are often not allowed (timberland etc) and a big no no are shoes that look like trainers. I actually fell out with clarks when in there with my DS as all the shoes for his size (7) were styled like trainers; I told the manager that as a HoY I would not accept those shoes in school and someone should be speaking to the designers to make them aware of the issues they were causing!

Shoes wise they get something moderately smart black leather and hard wearing that fits their feet! Usually clarks/ startrite/ hushpuppy etc they walk miles and miles every week around school let alone to and from. Youngest bit miffed by this but actually a lot of the girls are inclarks for school tbh. Never had any bullying for it ( even in the boys school). Ds would like trendy shoes but he can go through a £30 pair- literally walk the soles to holes let alone toes damaged by footy- in 6-8 weeks still. ( these are clarks gents sale shoes).

Bras- I wish we could have the tatty teddy type ones!! Dd2 has been in flipping bravissimo bras since last summer when she was just 11- noine else does her size!! My understanding wa no wires till they have mature boobs. M&S say ok to have " soft wires" after a year but I feel that's sales patter.

None of my 3 are "trendy " or hugely popular but we've never had bullying issues at secondary. Ds was bullied rapt primary as a " boffin" though. My feeling, and what I try to tell the kids is it doesn't matter what you do, if a bully thinks your a target they'll have a go for something. Far better that it's your shoes- that you can blame your mother for than your personality/ personal appearance that you can do nothing about ( eg being a boffin ! Or bring ginger or what ever). Find a smart put down and walk away from the bullies head high.

Dd has got to the end of yr 9 still wearing Clarks Velcro shoes. Her choice.
No bullying, comments from anyone.
She has realised her feet hurt in cheap crappy shoes. They may only cost £8 bot need replacing regularly.

I am about Y7 boys 'bullying' each other about their footwear unless it's completely outlandish, even with velcro seeing as in reality, not many 11 year old boys can tie laces reliably these days!

However, Y9 girls- different proposition altogether! They examine the nuances of each other's kit with forensic precision!

My 13 y/o DD1 wears Clarks shoes. With velcro (she is dyspraxic). Never been an issue as far as I can tell. DS is starting y7 next term - I assumed he would have his velcro (or not - he doesn't mind) black shoes from clarks like normal. At the end of the day, my kids all have curly hair, freckles and glasses. If stupid people want to bully them about their appearance they won't have to go for the shoes. Luckily it won't bother the kids.

Dd1 is getting Dr Martens. She wanted the same as me woohoo I'm trendy

"NOrthampton is renowned for shoes"

My DD didn't get wired bras until yr 11 (when needed a strapless one for prom dress).
However, M&S do 'soft-wire' models in their Angel range, which is supposed to be OK for growing girls & looks like underwired.

sorry to hijack the thread but seems to be sort of connected as all to do with what peers are wearing to fit in we have moved on from shoes to underwired bras- DD is 13 I do not want to back down on this one - but again facing the old chestnut of 'everyone else is wearing them' with Me to You bears on Tatty Teddy , Betty Boop etc her latest parting shot 'well I'll definitly have one when I'm in year 9' accompanied with the defiant stare we all know and love so well. What do I do - am I being unreasonable?

Ah yes, the dollies!
My poor DD who is not at all girlie, ended up with thoes a couple of years back when we left it quite late. And they had run out in her sisters size ( then 5) who actually wanted them. So best not to leave it till the last minute if you want a choice.
DD1 still wearing clarkes or similar in year 8. Like to get feet measured while still growing, and finding the width changing too. Usually get the sturdier ballet pump type in the young adults, often with a bar. but she has never wanted to be one of the designer/ fashion crowd.

Tried getting shoes for dd (year 9) in Clarks. It was practically impossible because she has small feet and they all had dollies in them, fairies on the soles etc Grr!. I'm not prepared to let her walk about all winter in stupid ballet shoes but she is happy enough with the Hush Puppies that we ended up with.

Now we just have to try and find some trainers for PE that aren't covered in Logos and pink sparkly stuff. When the school specifies 'plain' trainers I wish they'd give us a clue where we can actually buy the things!

Clarks are quite trendy now and go up to large sizes which is great for my DS who is size 9 already. It's best to get feet measured properly and the Clarks don't wear out like "fashion" shoes so they can wear till they grow out of them.

Never even considered anything other than plain black Clarks lace-ups or velcro. As far as I'm aware, most other boys wear the same. Be careful about getting anything to fashionable in case the school don't allow them.

I had a letter this morning about ordering some of ds's school PE kit, I have to fill the form in and cough up by the end of April, time's going to pass quickly!! I wouldn't do shoes yet though, his feet will grow.

I'm afraid my DS just got his at Clarks. All my kids have narrow feet so need shoes that come in width fittings & lace-ups, not slip ons.

Never had any problems with comments from the other kids

Ben Sherman is very popular with the Secondary School age boys, however they no longer make their junior range and their shoes are quite high fashion now rather than being practical.

Try IKON (I know one name), Pods or Timberland if you want to go for the hardwearing but trendy shoes.

If you do want a slip on but are more concerned with comfort rather than style then Hush Puppies and Garvalin are a good bet. Both make excellent slip on shoes in plain black leather with no outward branding so there is no teasing to be done.

Other manufacturers Like Ricosta and Primigi do make school shoes in larger sizes but they tend to be velcro fastening rather than slip on or lace up.

Children at Secondary school will be walking at least 3-4 times as far each day as they did at primary school. It is worth choosing a shoe that has a good sole unit as well as being comfortable.

I know that sometimes the cost of these shoes can seem astronomical but you should expect at least one to one and a half terms use from each pair of school shoes.
If you spend £55 on them and break it down into a daily cost it will work out to about the same price as a pint of milk. £35 - £45 though is an average price range for early secondary school children. It does depend on size though as anything under a size 7 will be on the cheaper side as it will be classed as youth not adult.

Lucky DD is way way smaller than me - I don't fancy getting knocked out! Anyway, I don't want her to look geeky - my mother never had a clue and I would hate to put DD through that!

Can I roll out my school shoes story?

The usual 'school shoes' row was taking place between me and my mum at the end of August in, I think, 1980.

My mum is championing "Cordelia" (the official school shoe - bleeuurrggh). I want something more trendy.

The heated argument escalates and I... hit my mum over the head with a shoe and knock her out !!!!!

I won the day and got the shoes I wanted. September 3rd rolls round and I prance off in my shoes. I get sent home with a note that I am not to come to school in unsuitable shoes again

I don't know what the moral of this tale is, but I certainly felt guilty at my stupidity and teenage awfulness afterwards. Luckily my mum saw the funny side afterwards and it became a famous family anecdote.