How long do you expect a pair of school shoes to last?

[Anney28]

Exactly that! When we buy school shoes in September for dc my partner wants them to last all year as they are expensive (DS usually has Clark’s and Dd usually has start rite). But is that realistic?

Often by the end of the year they are falling apart - I notice this more with Clark’s. DD’s school shoes are from start rite and still in perfect condition but she’s outgrown.

Obviously been off school for a few months and they are going back for 3 weeks before summer.

But do you expect a pair to last all year? My sons feet hardly grow for the last two years he’s only
grown half a size or so. Dd has jumped up one size recently!!

Aibu to think some years that two pairs might be needed? Obviously have no choice but to buy new if they have been outgrown!

DC1 is primary and school shoes lasted all year in reception.

Now back at school and wearing trainers each day, only because he's got used to them during lockdown & says doesn't want to wear school shoes.

School boy said anything- this is probably least of their concerns. (DC1 at a state primary)

First pair of school shoes for DC1 were Clark's and lasted all year

Never a year. Up to 2 terms. We buy boots as winter school shoes - Clarks - and if they last the winter I'm impressed. Then we buy school sandals and by that time they've usually gone up a size. I'd say we easily buy 2 pairs of school shoes a year per child.

My 6yo is hard on her (Clarks) shoes, so if they last a term I am over the moon. Obviously less than that when she has a growth spurt and in the warmer months when she is out on the climbing wall and trying to climb trees.

I often look with envy at all the boys in her class with their practical enclosed shoes, dry and warm feet, and a rubber bumper on the toe to absorb impact.

I hear good things about start rite but there is nowhere local that stocks them, and I'm nervous of not having them fitted.

Used to work at Clarks about 10 years ago and got asked this a lot. It completely depends on the child. Some take really good care of their shoes, others are very heavy-footed or play a lot of ball games and they wear through them quicker. Some kids' feet won't grow for a year, others will have multiple growth spurts.

Normally 2 terms as they grow so much and also trash them.

One term I found. They can be very well.used walking to.school, playing etc.

I imagine that on Mumsnet school shoes are like chickens and are expected to last for years. First as school shoes, then as knee pads and lastly as mats for hot pans.

3 to 4 pairs a year. X

If their feet don't grow and they're from Clarks, 6 months, max. If they're from Deichmann, three weeks. (Never doing that again.)

Most children's feet grow one or two sizes a year, so in my opinion Clarks only make them durable enough to last six months of walking to school.

Are my kids the only ones whose feet grew very slowly then, and ended up with small feet anyway? More than once I bought the same size school shoes at the start of a new year that they had had the precious year.

I expect to replace shoes once a year. DS has hard wearing (trail running) trainers at the moment for school which are holding up well.

I plan to replace in March and expect them to last until November when they go into boots for the winter. Pleasantly surprised this year as DS's shoes and sandals still fit! DD needed new everything. I don't usually check throughout the year, but I do expect them to tell me if their shoes are too tight and we replace them.

Another vote for Treads.
We spent years with our son trashing multiple pairs of school shoes each year due to playing football in them at breaks. Found Treads last year after destroying another pairs of Clarke’s in one term. The Treads shoes still look like new when cleaned.

I've found that school shoes -whether Ive bought Clarks or Asda- generally would only last a couple of terms at most without getting wrecked . I have three rough and tumble boys Anyhow someone advised me to buy Adidas Alta black trainer style school shoes and I haven't looked back ! They're completely black so you can't see a logo ,and don't look like trainers- just like velcro school shoes. £25

school shoes - about one pair per term.
even if they were still 'good' dc feet grow out of them.
yes, shoes are expensive, but healthy feet are important.

Mine last most of the year usually and either limp through the last few weeks of term before heading to the bin or are replaced with supermarket cheap ones for the last half term.

Their feet grow in fits and spurts so I accept that sometimes they’ll need more than one pair a year 🤷🏻‍♀️

Not fair to make them wear small shoes even if only for a few weeks. How mean.

I buy decent brands (geox) with good toe protection and they hold well.

Two terms before they get outgrown. I don't buy new for September, just when they get outgrown.... Which worked out well as they never needed new at the same time. Now they will both need new when they (eventually) return to school.

I did have one pair last less than a term during a major growth spurt. School let her wear trainers for a few weeks until the summer holidays (and gave me a couple of dresses out of the spares box as uniform orders took a few weeks since we were abroad)

Usually a year, unless outgrown, but this year bath DC’s shoes were wrecked by lockdown - holes in soles, sticking coming undone, tears in leather type wrecked. Very dissapointing since they were hour braves - Hush Puppies and DMs! They were both also getting too small.

DS went back to school a couple of weeks ago and we got him new shoes from
M&S. Fingers crossed they’ll still fit in September. DD is going in for 2 days in the last week of term. She’ll wear whatever she has that fits!!

Don't think you can say how long shoes last as it depends on the rate of growth and wear and tear. If you buy decent shoes I reckon average would be 4-5 months. If you buy cheap then not long at all. Don't allow them to wear school stuff to play in when they come home and think it reasonable 2 pairs a year depending on growth. Best shoes I ever bought for dds were plain black DMs very expensive but lasted well especially when teens where feet did not grow so rapidly. They would last a year again depending on growth without being tatty.

Clark’s barely lasted 2 terms for my DD - Startrite and George generally last a school year. My DSs school shoes still look in very good condition after a year.

Every year we have to buy my daughter shoes at May half term - I usually buy her a cheap pair just to last those few weeks. Last year I got her a pair from M&S at Spring half term which she wore through til March and they still looked like new! Should get her to try them on and see if they still fit!

Most of the year, wear sandals in June/July

My 11yo dd is a UK6 - in our house it's all about how much extra space you can get for ongoing growth! Shoes have been slightly pointless throughout primary though in my opinion as school make the kids change into pumps at school which last about a week before needing replaced. Looking for something durable for secondary.

3 DC here and mine have always lasted the full year, other than DD2 who had a hole in the sole of hers and I bought news ones just before lockdown.

They are all in primary though and have small-ish feet for their age.