To slightly ignore uniform policy?

[Vaginald]

www.clarks.co.uk/p/20350622

www.sportsdirect.com/lonsdale-leyton-v-childrens-035328

Along with most schools, ds's uniform policy states he can't wear trainers, so something from clarks like in first link is allowed.
I find it so frustrating when he already owns the (much cheaper) pair in the second link, and they are almost the same!
Aibu to send him to school in the trainers in the hope that noone notices?!

I got either these:
www.marksandspencer.com/Younger-Riptape-Trainers-Freshfeet-Technology/dp/B002YQJXYC?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_5&nodeId=419346031&sr=1-5&qid=1345791241

or these:
www.marksandspencer.com/Younger-Boys-Leather-Riptape-Shoes/dp/B002F6TFF8?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_3&nodeId=419346031&sr=1-3&qid=1345791241

for DSS2 last year for school - they lasted about 6 months before he finally kicked the heels out of them.

Personally, I don't think Clarks are worth the money anymore. As DSS2 destroys shoes, I check how thick & hard wearing the soles are - all except the most expensive Clarks shoes seem to have hollow heels to make them lighter, so they would wear out a lot faster.

That's the issue I have, I had to buy so many shoes for ds2 last year- there were actual holes in 2 pairs within 8 weeks per pair! Trainers just seem a bit more hard wearing!

No, the sports direct ones look like trainers to me. They have £12 shoes that are school shoes too. Why not buy those? Fwiw, we were allowed to wear black trainers for break time in school. Ask a teacher if you can send him in with trainers to wear at break.

Sports Direct ones look like trainers. We'd have a letter home if ds wore them.

They look the same to me. Can't believe how petty schools can be!

If football is played at lunchtime at my school they have to change into their trainers.

Stops mud being traipsed into the classroom too.

I have a very lackadasical approach to school uniform and thankfully so does the dc's school! Mine will both be returning to school in trainers this September.

YANBU.

I don't get why it's such a huge issue and why some school's think it's linked with academic performance/behaviour. Meh to that.

WaitingForMe

Why are the schools being petty?
As a parent you sign up to the policies of the school. Sending children in with the incorrect equipment/uniform and then complaining that they have be caught is petty.

Since you already own the SportsDirect pair, you have nothing to lose by trying to get away with them, as long as you are prepared to buy alternative shoes if challenged - which you have already said you are.

At least you might get a few more weeks wear out of them, all adds up.

If that logo is embossed, you could always slice it off with a razor blade & file it down if you care enough & DS will let you. Prob not worth it though.
TBH the coloured soles might be more of a giveaway, or is that pretty normal for boys 'shoes' the days?

Our school is introducing a new super strict uniform policy. Their definition of suitable footwear is 'no colours or logos visible' so I think the 2nd ones would meet the criteria.

If challenged I would print out the clarkes ones and ask them to point out what makes the clarkes acceptable and the Lonsdale not. If they point out the brand being key you need to remind them that schools cannot enforce a given brand over another and that's all it is - a brand, in the same way as heniz make beans and hp make beans. They are both still beans though.

Having said that I possibly wouldn't buy the second if I thought they could be pulled up on it cos I would be jolly annoyed at having to buy a second pair. Seeing as you already have them you have nothing to lose.

Incidently those teachers that say they would spot them and pull them up would you also pull him up for wearing either of the practically identical clarkes shoes?

The Clarks ones look like schools shoes and the Sports Direct ones look like sports shoes

The Clarks shoes that MrsReiver posted are in the Sports shoes section of Clarks.

Thanks OP, I will be taking DS to Sports Direct when his current trainers school shoes die!

I think it all depends on whether you want to teach your children that it's OK to ignore rules!
Sorry to be pedantic, but rules are rules - and if you break the school shoes rule, why buy uniform at all?
Presumably you knew the rules about shoes when you decided to buy the trainers????

Yes, but they're also under the school shoe section Quangle

look the same to me

What kind of weirdo teacher looks at the brand of kids shoes?
It really doesn't matter and if they moan there is nothing they can do about it! Just send him in those. That are smart, comfortable and practical. The school can't force you to buy a other (more expensive!) pair.

Krumbum
"What kind of weirdo teacher looks at the brand of kids shoes?"

Er the kind that has a form group and has been asked by the school to enforce the schools uniform policy.

You'd have to be a proper jobs worth to be that picky over a brand. Why is it some teachers really care and others don't then if they have all been told the same thing.

It all depends on the school

Where I work the policy is something like

Black shoes or shoe like trainers, No visible brands or bright colours.

the trainers that the OP wants to get would be fine.

Towards end of term parents took to buying pupils trainers with brightly coloured rubber at the base. They have been asked not to.

TBH. I am paid as part of my comtract to uphold the policies and the ethos of the school. If that makes me a jobsworth then so be it, but it doesn't change the fact that YOU have gotten your DC in to trouble and are arguing about a policy that you knew about when you enrolled your DC in the school.

suedpants these are his shoes from last term- he's moving from an infants to a juniors with completely new uniform, I didn't buy them just to be rebellious, it was just all I could afford at the time & they still fit.

If I could find him £12 shoes that didn't fall apart within 3 weeks I'd definitely buy them! Haven't come across any yet!

I could ask about him changing into trainers for break time, that would work!

It just all seems so pedantic, I wouldn't send him in bright shoes covered in Nike ticks etc, but these are so similar to the Clarks pair that I resent the thought of going into my overdraft to buy identical shoes!

Tell him to change into trainers at lunchtime and that if he plays football at lunchtime in his shoes you will take the money for new ones from his own money.

If a parent has limited money and the cheaper ones will last longer because of their style then I don't think they are doing anything wrong. A lot of parents don't have the money to throw at expensive shoes and that is much more important than some policy.
It isn't a choice anyway! Nearly all schools in the uk have a uniform and we have catchment areas. So you send a child to a school because you have too send them there, despite the uniform code!
Seems unfair to me to bully children because of whst their parents dress them in. As a teacher use some common sense and think about why a child is wearing very slightly different shoes and if that actually matters in any way.

Krumbum

"Seems unfair to me to bully children because of whst their parents dress them in."

If you want to call it bullying that that is your perogative, seems a bit extreme to me.

"As a teacher use some common sense and think about why a child is wearing very slightly different shoes and if that actually matters in any way."

As a teacher I do not set the school policies, As a parent you can however approach the school and say that you are having difficulties and they will sort something out or make allowences. Whether that is providing shoes or letting the teachers know that child x will be wearing trainers this week.

It would be your job as a parent to inform the school and prevent the "bullying".

Couldn't wear either to my DCs school, all trainer-like shoes are banned.

They sent anyone not in uniform to the internal exclusion room, so I wouldn't take the risk.