Polishable school shoes

[Georgieporgie29]

I’ve just had an email from my DD’s new school regarding the uniform and it states black polishable school shoes.
the ones I have bought for her are patent and I’m having a panic that that means they’re not polishable? Or am I overthinking this?
I think I’ll have to take them back anyway as they have a brown line around where the stitching is and I’m guessing that’s not allowed either.
so would you class polishable as just plain leather or would patent be ok do you think?

We have been told polishable not patent, but DS' new school is super strict on uniform. At least it means they are very specific on what they want so there is no room for interpretation.

Ah at least they have confirmed that for you and you know what you’re doing.

I’m not sure I’d say patent is polishable.

Can you afford to replace if the school rejects them?

Is this a primary or secondary school? State or private?

Patent is usually fine in primary/state ime. But some secondaries and some privates, it may not be.

When I've taught in schools with this rule, it's been to stop trainers that are marketed as school shoes, canvas Converses etc. Black patents shoes were generally OK, but they weren't that common beyond Y7, and even then few wore them. Things may have changed, or your child's school may be more or less strict - plain black leather would be the best option if you're not sure.

I would have interpreted that as meaning that patent leather shoes were fine! To me, polishable implies that they want children to have smart, shiny, polished shoes. Patent leather fits that description (albeit you don't actually need shoe polish to polish it, but can just use a damp cloth), whereas some plain leather shoes don't really look very polished even when you have.

It’s year 7, so first year at secondary and independent.
I can take them back as they are unworn and with the receipt because I was wavering about the thin brown line but there’s a chance that I may have got patent again and this just made me think. They would be patent brogues so not young looking shoes but patent all the same.
I think I’ll take these back and just get black leather.
thank you everyone.

You can use a black sharpie to colour in stitching e.g. on doc marten shoes, if that helps?

thats a great idea, thank you.
I think I might return these this time and get non patent but if they also have a brown line then I’ll colour it in.