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!

www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/

Anything on here? I have had a few pairs from there and have always been happy with the quality.

Also, M&S now mark which if their shoes are vegan.

*of

I’m surprised that the ballet pumps in that poster are deemed OK. They weren’t allowed at my DC’s school. But the trainer type would have been. You could argue that it’s a sexist dress code- girls can have ballet-type shoes, but boys can’t have trainer-type shoes - and the trainer ones are more practical, hard-wearing and comfortable.

@GingerFoxInAT0phat

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’s ridiculous! Why would you allow ballet pumps but not sensible dm shoes?!

A local high school (not ds’s) used to specify the make/model of shoes they will accept. They were all Clarks or StartRite, so not cheap, and problems arose if they didn’t fit very well, or when pupils’ feet got bigger than the range offered.

Have you told your child he’s likely to be shorter due to being vegan?

I'm already bracing myself for the inevitable high school shoe battle,and DS1 is only going into Y6 this year. He's severely hypermobile and has orthotics in his shoes. He HAS to wear ankle boots all year round for the support, and the only ones he finds comfortable, and which fit his absurdly high arched feet with the inserts in, are DM boots. They're not permitted at the high school in our village, but he'll bloody well be wearing them, even if I have to get some sort of letters from physio, OT and orthotics to make my case. Not really the best use of his clinician's time...

Maybe I should just send DS into year 7 in size 8 ballet pumps

@GingerFoxInAT0phat

Maybe I should just send DS into year 7 in size 8 ballet pumps

Do it, do it!

How can ballet pumps be ok it’s like walking on bare floor, no protection for ankle and get soaking wet and cold at slightest puddle.

Try shoezone or similar, they are rarely leather

"Have you told your child he’s likely to be shorter due to being vegan?"

Do you mean I should send him in heels?

Sports direct usually have a good range of back to school shoes. Not trainers but not a formal shoe. Several different brands available.

Don't buy kickers - they're shite and if your kids active then they will fall apart quickly.

My sons school said the same thing about his school shoes. I said if they want, they can buy him another pair of wide fitting shoes but that he will be wearing his current ones to school.

@Lalallama

"Have you told your child he’s likely to be shorter due to being vegan?"

He is though. Just google it!