school shoes aibu (prepared to be told I am)

[frangipan]

My son started secondary school this year, in line with the uniform policy which states ' black, preferably leather, shoes with non slip soles' I bought him these
www.amazon.co.uk/Pod-Felix-Older-Casual-School/dp/B00E4NIFBU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1384879250&sr=8-3&keywords=pod+boys+shoes so far so good, uniform was checked and passed off in the first week.

They fell apart after the first half term, walking, bus ride, heavy rain etc. The soles peeled away and the facing came away. We did glue them together so they would make it to half term.

so in half term we bought some more expensive better quality shoes

www.amazon.co.uk/Vans-Black-Leather-Trainers-UK/dp/B006EIU2YG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384879462&sr=8-2&keywords=black+leather+vans

we used permanent marker and blacked out the logo flash. They are black leather shoes with non slip soles. They have told us the new pair are not acceptable and that we have a week to buy new ones and that the original one were not suitable. We argued that our DS (if I do say so myself) is always clean and smart looking and that the shoes are in accordance with uniform policy. The school still say they are not appropriate. I honestly didn't buy them for the brand and bought them on the premise that they were similar to the original pair that no one had commented on for eight weeks.DS has canvas versions for casual wear and I knew they would fit and be comfortable. Can they really force us to buy more shoes by punishing DS??? new to all this so all help much appreciated.

The school sent him into isolation this morning for uniform breach. No one contacted me.

I didn't break the uniform policy, please read OP.

They look like skate shoes pretending to be sensible shoes to me- which is basically what they are.

Just take your son to Clarks and buy proper school shoes from either the kids' school section, or the men's workwear section.

Vans are for weekend wear (says she who wears them everyday)

Thing is, to be fair, you could have afforded to buy "suitable shoes" for your DS, so that is a bit of a contention, however there are families who will struggle to buy proper shoes - do those children get penalised too? I think it is bloody ridiculous. Those shoes are smart enough, they are not big lippy trainers in multi-colours - I would have thought schools had more important things to worry about tbh.

When i was at school (80s) it was fashionable for boys to wear white socks - guess what, they wasn't allowed

If a shoe is all black, sensible, long lasting, reasonably waterproof and flat (for girls) then I don't see what the issue it personally.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00CKFWP88

if you buy new my boys have these. expensive but they last until they grow out of them and my boys give their shoes a beating!

Scrounger - your DS is in primary. Uniform ules are lax at that age, far less so when you get to secondary.

I'm looking at the first pair and they are clearly plimsoll type shoes.

Were you hedging your bets when you bought them?

Toughees shoes are good and sensible and I've been pleasantly surprised with DSs Tesco shoes this term (but he is primary so needs velcro tabs).

my elder two areat high school with blazer and tie etc and they are strict om uniform. the ricosta are acceptable.

I don't think those shoes are smart at all. They look like plimsolls, not school shoes.

And yes there are bigger things to worry about, there always is... but they are clearly not smart school shoes, more like 'smart casual trainers/plimsolls'

And before some pedant comes along and says, yes they are still shoes, clearly they are footwear but they aren't shoes.

They look so similar to the first pair.
The first pair were Ok, is that right? Crazy!

At the local high school they have to have Clarks type school shoes, they are pretty strict on it. Vans are trainers not school shoes IMO so you were being unreasonable to buy them to be honest.

Thankyou for your replies. LEMisafucker I am not sure I understand your point about cost.

Yanbu... Why are they only saying now that there was a problem with the first pair?!

DamnBamboo have you shoe issues, you seem quite passionate about it.

The second pair looks smarter than the first pair to me? They meet all the specifications, and trainers are way more comfortable than "proper" shoes, and the comfort and health of your child's feet is the most important thing.

Anyway OP, live and learn I suppose.
They do some decently priced ones on ebay (brand new)if you know his size accurately. You'll get them for a lot cheaper than you paid for those that's for sure.
And now I suppose he has a nice pair of casual shoes for outside school

Goody, something to look forward to.

I cant see anything wrong with the vans shoes they are shoes I honestly cant see the difference maybe the school should do regulation school shoes to go with uniform , I wouldnt buy new shoes I would go to school or phone them and ask what is exactly is wrong with the black non slip shoes you have bought

My point isn't really directed at you frangipan, just that some families would struggle to buy the appropriate footwear for school, i have experienced this (not personally) where a girl had a pair of canvas shoes for school - they were pretty scruffy, but her family could not afford to replace them, yet she was still penalised and put in detention.

Ha frangi

No, no issues at all.

But I cringe when shoe-shopping and an shop assistant presents me with a trainer or a casual plimsoll for my boys to try on for school, especially when they're clearly neither particularly smart or suitable.

and the first pair look similar to the second pair

The stupid thing is, trainers aren't often used for actual sports, so the whole trainer/shoe distinction is a bit "moo"

They look OK to me. Bit casual but not obviously a brand, once you've blacked it out.

Round here the boys all wear Kickers - brand-consciousness rules

Both, to me, are trainers. They would not be suitable in the school I work in.

LEM that is awful