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Original poster

Ballet pump style school shoes

30 replies

Itstheprinciple · 22/04/2021 17:18

My DD's school has got a bee in their bonnet about school shoes at the moment and I'm just wondering I this is normal. They are saying the girls can't have ballet pump style school shoes, they have to have a 'sturdy school shoe'.

I personally don't see what the issue is but they are insisting. I think as long as it is a shoe rather than trainers and black, what is the problem? My DD, along with half her year apparently, have these Vivienne Westwood Melissa shoes (I don't really know about this sort of thing!) and they seem to have a particular dislike to them. They are definitely not my cup of tea, but i don't think they are offensive. Is this level of shoe policy the norm?

OP posts:
Shehasadiamondinthesky · 22/04/2021 17:21

Good they are vile and ruin their feet.
Half the kids I've seen in NHS podiatry have biomechanical problems caused by these shoes and refuse to change them for something more sensible because they say they will be bullied. Refuse insoles (which don't go into these shoes) because they will be bullied.
Its ridiculous.
Probably the school is sick of us writing in to say please can this child wear trainers so they can wear their insoles.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 22/04/2021 17:22

I should say either caused or exacerbated by these shoes.

Thesearmsofmine · 22/04/2021 17:22

They aren’t very supportive shoes or good for growing feet,

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TheBabyAteMyBrain · 22/04/2021 17:25

Sorry, I think it's good too. They are the most impractical, unsupportive shoes about. Not to mention the poor kids socks get soaked as soon as it looks like it might rain. Stupid things, I hate them for children.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 22/04/2021 17:27

Ballet flats are terrible for feet and for playing. You buy your child Vivienne Westwood school shoes? Where on earth do you live, Mayfair??

minniemomo · 22/04/2021 17:29

Vivienne Westwood??? No wonder they are clamping down. Study lace up or slip on is better with a supportive sole

tywysoges · 22/04/2021 17:31

DD’s school is super relaxed about their shoes policy (trainers are allowed) but I am not sure they would allow Melissa pumps - they are expensive jelly shoes...

halcyondays · 22/04/2021 17:32

Vivienne Westwood shoes for school, are the parents mad?

We have always had no ballet style allowed at our school and a good thing too.

Plexie · 22/04/2021 17:34

Long-term use of completely flat shoes is a bad idea anyway. By September a lot of people are seeking advice on plantar fasciitis because they've been wearing flat shoes all summer (speaks from painful experience).

Letshavesometea · 22/04/2021 17:34

I think its an excessive policy. The shoes might not be the best for support but for teenagers they just want the fashionable thing and they are only really walking between classes and to get lunch. They are plain black pump shoes, and definitely not offensive

bugaboo218 · 22/04/2021 17:34

Good.

I am late 40s, but completely ruined my feet by wearing ballet flat shoes from my mid teens to early thirties.

I now have to wear orthopedic lace up shoes all of the time, due to problems caused by wearing unsupportive shoes in my earlier life.

Ballet shoes are terrible for feet and offer zero support. I wish I had listened back then. I didn't and as a result have to wear quite old lady shoes that cost £££

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 22/04/2021 17:39

Along with the issues pointed out by other posters, ballet pumps are a risk during practical lessons at high school they risk your child dropping something heavy or hot on their foot during science / technology without the protection of a sturdy upper shoe and at primary school they will have a similar problem during technology.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 22/04/2021 17:39

Regardless of the brand (Vivienne Westwood?!? Really?!?) ballet flats are crap shoes for girls to spend 30 hours a week ,in all weathers and play and run in.

Flats don't support feet properly, they're always falling or flying off , making girls less likely to run around, kick a football etc. Not to mention there have been more than one black eye when one flew in someone's face.Grin

Medusa1 · 22/04/2021 17:39

Ballet pump style shoes are terribly unsupportive and certainly no good in winter. Yes, a strict shoe policy is the norm here when they get to secondary. Even as far as colouring in the stitching on shoes if it's not black, or face being put in isolation!

Hazelnutlatteplease · 22/04/2021 17:42

They aren't school shoes! They are party shoes! Good on school!

Seriously bad for your feet too. Not something you should be encouraging.

Biancadelrioisback · 22/04/2021 17:48

I don't mind them at all! If I had a spare £80 I'd get some.

But I'm not a school child/teen and can change my shoes throughout the day if I want.

As many have said, flat shoes aren't great for their feet especially if they are worn 5+ days a week.

If all the girls get banned from wearing them, they'll have to look at other shoes they like. Either the school completely bans them so they are forced to look at alternatives or they allow them.

Original poster
Itstheprinciple · 22/04/2021 18:18

I'm not really sure what the issue is with Vivienne Westwood. They were £80. I'd pay £50+ in Clarks as she's a size 7 so often have to go to the women's section rather than the school shoe section and she paid me £20 towards them so the cost is not that much of an issue really.

She has always had 'school shoes' from Clarks or similar until now. Her feet haven't grown for 2 years so not really an issue for growing feet.

I take on board the comments about them being unsupportive so maybe that is the school's issue.

As for playing football etc, she wouldn't do that at school anyway, except for PE lessons. She has no issue with getting stuck into sports the rest of the time, she was in the park playing football with a load of lads and girls only yesterday - wearing different footwear.

OP posts:
nevernotstruggling · 22/04/2021 18:22

I dunno. I don't think it's the shoe style it's the wanky branding that's crept into uniform. I'm with the school.

nevernotstruggling · 22/04/2021 18:24

They are so nice though I totally get why teenage girls like them. I might get some

Biancadelrioisback · 22/04/2021 18:25

There may well be a good number of people who can't afford Clarks shoes let alone VW. So PP is right, it's probably more the fact that they are unnecessarily branded?

P0gM0Th0in · 22/04/2021 18:28

Aren’t the Viv x Melissa shoes made of rubber? I have a couple of pairs of the heeled versions with the heart. I love them, but surely wearing shoes like that all the time wouldn’t be good for your skin? At least they’d be waterproof though, haha!

Brieminewine · 22/04/2021 18:31

They’re not expensive, only about £75 now.

I think the issue with them is they are open footed, so if something was to fall into the foot there would be no protection, so it’s a health and safety issue.

EventuallyDistracted · 22/04/2021 18:33

Banned at my DD's school too (all ballet flats are). I am totally in agreement, they are extremely bad for feet. I'd never wear them myself either.

tywysoges · 22/04/2021 18:33

@P0gM0Th0in

Aren’t the Viv x Melissa shoes made of rubber? I have a couple of pairs of the heeled versions with the heart. I love them, but surely wearing shoes like that all the time wouldn’t be good for your skin? At least they’d be waterproof though, haha!
All Melissa shoes are made of plastic (PVC).
CloudyGladys · 22/04/2021 19:03

If you see an unsecured shoe come off on a busy staircase at lesson changeover time and the resulting slips and falls, then you'd see the issue.