DS sent home from school for wrong shoes - can anyone help me find some non-leather non-trainers polishable black shoes that can be delivered by tomorrow?

[Lalallama]

Argh, first day back at school, year 11. DS wore the same black lace up shoes he wore all last year, but the school has changed their uniform policy over the summer and they are no longer allowed as they look too much like trainers. Apparently we were emailed about this but we must have missed it amongst the many other emails about Covid tests, etc - and judging by the fact that almost half the year were sent home, the message obviously wasn’t clear.

DS is vegan and won’t wear leather, so we need to find him some smart black non-leather shoes by Tuesday. We’re away all weekend so ideally I need to order something that can be delivered over the weekend. He’s size 6 or 7.

These look ideal but they’re not in his size.

These are non-leather in his size but I doubt will be allowed as they’re too much like trainers.

Help!

I don't really get why people get so angry about school uniform, I can't wear trainers for work. OP I realise you are just asking for shoe suggestions, would he wear these?

Phone the school and tell them you'll get a new pair ASAP, and he'll be in tomorrow, or just send him in and see what they do meanwhile getting some as soon as you can.

Are you in England, OP? Where have schools started back already? I’m next Friday and I thought that was quite early!

Leicestershire are back this week.

schools are so bloody annoying with this stuff. I dont even see whats wrong with smart trainer types. Wtf difference does it make

@ManifestDestinee

England is mental with this stuff. Sending kids home because they are wearing shoes that were allowed last year? That's insanity. Why not get all the parents together and just say NO to this nonsense?

It's nothing to do with England - it's the OP's DC's school.

Plenty of schools in England have less stringent uniform policies (and/or don't send children home for contravening them).

Are you near a Charles Clinkard shop? They have the startrite shoes in a junior 7 F which I think is a standard 7 and do collect in store.

www.charlesclinkard.co.uk/kids-c120/boys-c121/school-shoes-c132/isaac-vegan-boys-senior-school-shoes-p43505#attribute%5B1%5D=32899

We got sent a photo of correct and incorrect shoes that are allowed in secondary. Some are obvious why they’re not allowed but some of the others look the same as ones on the approved list.

Ds did an early transition and wore some black leather Clark’s shoes, now I’m worrying if he’ll be allowed to wear them when he starts year 7 properly.

That list is ridiculous ginger

How can an unsupportive dangerous show like a ballet pump be allowed but the perfect smart dm shoe isn't

Surely an ankle boot is more practical too.

And those ones in the middle I'm totally confused as to what is wrong

@GingerFoxInAT0phat

I think most of the shoes in the not approved half look fine? What about the pair that crosses into both halves? what on earth is wrong with those?? I was expecting heels or obviously branded trainers. I'd much rather my DD wore DMs in winter or wet weather than silly weedy ballet pumps (she doesn't like them, but that's separate issue!)

X post with @Whatwouldscullydo

Unless it's the laces?

Maybe they have some weird "formula " where anything nore than 4 laces is a boot or trainer regardless of the actual shoe?

It’s ridiculous, the only ones I can kind of see why they’re not allowed are the Nike Air Force 1s and the Doc Martins as the soles look more brown.

Can’t wait for Ds to start school

And good luck OP, hope you manage to find something suitable for Ds!

@Whatwouldscullydo That could be it you know

Eeek I'm going to check now how many eyelets for laces the most boring pair of shoes I bought DS have

Dd has the dm shoes

They are very smart and actually pretty conformable and have lasted well.

Don't see what is wrong with them at all.

Seems anything remotely supportive or practical is banned. Do they have no childen with mobility /coordination.issues ?

I can see that they might ban the yellow threaded Docs as part of the ‘only black shoes’ thing but I struggle to understand why some of those are banned.

But then one of the ‘ok’ shoes has a red tag

And those ones in the middle I'm totally confused as to what is wrong

They look like pretty much every pair of school shoes I ever had, and my school was pretty strict

I’d have been stuffed if I’d gone to that school, as I don’t think anything on the “approved” list would have fitted my feet well.

Also, anything on the banned side would be more supportive for growing feet than the ballet flats.

I’d have been stuffed if I’d gone to that school, as I don’t think anything on the “approved” list would have fitted my feet well

My feet were a nightmare they turn In so I really need the ankle support. It used to take up to 2 hours to get my shoes fitted I could never ever get what all the other kids were having as they just weren't supportive enough. Insoles,.half Insoles, heel grips, u name.it I had to try it . At one point I had special Insoles specially made but there wasn't a single "acceptable" school shoe that fit them.even when they were shaved down.

When.i was in 6th form and had a paper round i thought fuck it and bought a cheap pair of ankle boots . Wow. So.comfy. my amkles didnt cave in getting off the bus. Probably would have fit my Insoles in too.

All that time I'd put up with the monstrosities that were the school shoes we could make fit, and went without physio therapist aids cos if stupid school rules about shoes.

[quote Lalallama]@Mojoj don’t worry, the school have had the brunt of mine and DH’s wrath. DS’s year group have been out of school more than they were in over the last year because of isolations and things, and then they send half the year group home on their first day back rather than giving them a warning. In their GCSE year. We’ve sent him back in, in his ‘wrong’ shoes.[/quote]
School is being bloody ridiculous. I suggest next time a vacancy comes up you try to get onto the Board of Governors and sort this out.

This deffo must be an English thing as here in Scotland, kids can wear black trainers which are much more suitable.

That poster is baffling , what is wrong with the ones third down on the left?

@Peaseblossum22

That poster is baffling , what is wrong with the ones third down on the left?

It looks like they're the doc Martin shoes. Maybe it's because the soles aren't black? It is baffling though. I don't understand why the doc Martin boots are unacceptable either to be fair.

Thanks for all your help, and its reassuring to know we are reasonable to be miffed about the whole thing. I’ve ordered a couple of pairs to be delivered tomorrow, and have emailed a photo to the school, and they’ve confirmed they are acceptable. So hopefully all will be well next week.

@GingerFoxInAT0phat the list you were given is bonkers. Third down on the ‘not allowed’ list looks the same, if not smarter, than the fifth down on the ‘allowed’ side. DS’s school wouldn’t allow those as they have a red bit on.