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!

[Clearyweary]

My DD usually gets through 3 pairs of school shoes a year. 1 per term. I have no idea what she does to them, but they usually end up pretty destroyed tather than grown out of. I’ve tried cheap (hurt her feet, get destroyed quicker), expensive (comfortable, still get destroyed) and everything in between. So I’ve just accepted that new shoes are a termly thing now, and usually try to buy a pair or two in the sale for the next size up (as I knownher width and the sytle which fit her) to try to save a few pennie!

[squeekums]

Nope, dd grows out of hers or they get run into the ground. We can buy whatever sneakers we like, no specific shoe required just no thongs, heels or steel cap boots

There times we buy shoes cos she just wants a change. Hell I have several pairs of the same sneaker in different colours for this reason lol

[PhantomErik]

DD had one pair that lasted a whole year from Asda. Since then all 3 DC usually get through two, sometimes three pairs in a school year. Mostly growing out of them, sometimes wearing them out.

Dd's feet suddenly grew two weeks before summer last year & I bought a cheap pair in Shoezone as no time to order online/go to a different town & these have been declared amazing! She thought they were so comfortable & lasted a good six months before looking tatty so actually bought another of the same size.

[ExtraOnions]

I started buying my daughter Dr Martens a few years back, they last really well. She’s due to go into Y10 and could still wear the pair from 2 years ago (if she didn’t insist on a new pair every year). She also wears them outside of school, they look great

[Michaelbaubles]

I went to my local independent children’s shoe shop and the woman recommended me a lot of Geox that she said would last a school year. £55 but they did last really well, and my son is very rough on his things. I bought a pair of Geox boots for DD and she’ll outgrow them before they’re worn out. Pricy, but cheaper than buying two pairs.

[SauvignonBlanketyBlank]

I buy twice a year normally

[myfurloughedfriend]

As pp said Dr Martens are great - if you think their feet have stopped growing. Bought DD a pair of size 7 at the start of secondary and they are still going in year 10. They still look smart and with plenty of life left in the soles. They'll definitely see her through year 11 next year, and probably be useful for any part time job she gets.

Boys are a bit different as they generally grow later and faster, but I think the extra cost of DMs is more than worth it (for girls)

[bestbrowsintown]

I'm not sure I'd have a certain expectation, it would just be until they were outgrown or worn out.
I will say that Clark's shoes are rubbish. Kickers are the best shoes I've ever bought for ds.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

I expect them to last until they are outgrown or at least a school year otherwise.
DD has slow growing feet and once I think I got 5 terms.
Never had a problem with StartRites for her.

[Alanna1]

Our school has made it clear they do not expect parents to replace outgrown uniform for the last few weeks of term. In your shoes I’d buy a pair of black trainers (assuming you need shoes that fit!) or closed-toe summer sandals in a dark colours & explain to the school.

[Hamsterriffic]

I’d expect them to last a whole year. When they get measured the new shoes are always massive with loads of room so outgrowing is unlikely!

[AdoreTheBeach]

I’ve had three children. How long their school shoes lasted really varied by child. I always bought either Clark’s or stride right, always leather.

My DS grew in spurts. He could go a term and then boom - inch talker abs foot much bigger so needed shoes. Then there was the year if football. He ruined so many Isis of shoes playing footie Dudu g break and kicking anything in way to/from school that he wore out the leather on the top of his right foot. In two pairs of shoes.

One daughter used to not undo her shoes and try to walk with her foot half out, on the back of the shoes. Just wreaked then.

Last child was naturally (and still is) someone careful with her things. Her shoes used to last at least half the school year if not longer. She’s always been small and still is today at 21 so we also didn’t need to replace shoes that often due to growth as we had to for DS. DS also used to lose things. Often lost just one shoe (one sock etc., can’t tell you how many items of PE kit we had to replace too).

[Suzie6789]

I wouldn’t bother with new shoes for the last 3 weeks. My DS will go in black trainers.
I’m shocked at the amount of people who can get shoes to last a year. That’s never happened here. For primary my kids had Clark’s or start rite, and they were battered by Easter holidays. If I bought new then we’d be replacing by November. All my kids were hard on their shoes, the best (toughest) we found for lasting were start rite rhino for my DS.

[Woeismethischristmas]

I buy geox black school trainers always outgrown rather than ruined. Took a while to get there though and ruined many a pair before them. There's a park with a roundabout opposite school where the little ones take turns removing the shiny leather off the front of their shoes. I don't thimk I've seen school shoes outside of reception tbh.

[Crabbo]

I wouldn’t necessarily expect them to last a year as they are heavily worn and we don’t usually expect non-school shoes to last in the same way e.g outside of school most kids might wear trainers but then winter boots or wellies when it’s wet & cold, sandals in the summer...

[Billiematey]

I expect them to last the full school year. It was a bit different with my son as I think he was playing football more, so did occasionally have holes in his shoes by June 😬.

[Georgieporgie29]

Another vote for treads. My DS plays football in the playground and his shoes would literally be falling to bits so would need a second pair, treads lasted all year and still looked ok by the end. They also come with an insole so if their feet grow you take the insole out and they are the next size up.

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

They should last a year. Are you looking after them properly? Eg spray them with waterproofing spray, wax and polish them.

Also make sure your child isnt maltreating them pointlessly. I saw a boy literally just kicking a wall in his school shoes once, then he walked off scuffing them along the pavement. His father who was with him said nothing! A school age child needs to learn to look after things.

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

I don't thimk I've seen school shoes outside of reception tbh.

Many schools do not allow trainers, even black ones, so I'm surprised at this. I have not seen any children near me (primary or secondary) wearing anything except school shoes.

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

He ruined so many Isis of shoes playing footie Dudu g break and kicking anything in way to/from school

Why did you let him kick things walking to school? Playing football is one thing but mindlessly kicking anything is just not looking after your shoes. If mine did that they would be buying the next pair from their own pocket money.

[Redyoyo]

I usually buy a pair for starting in August, a pair of smart boots just after the October week then new shoes again in March as the ones from starting usually don't fit.
I go to clarks outlet or marks for shoes, spend more on boots as in Scotland and need decent boots.

[elliejjtiny]

My dc go through so many pairs of school shoes. If they last 1/2 a term we are doing well.

[gigchuckedout56]

DD is 5.5 and in the last year we've only needed 2 sets of shoes as she hasn't grown much. When younger we needed new shoes every 3-4 months.

Her school shoes bought last August were due to be replaced in April/Easter but haven't because of lockdown, they were scuffed but structurally fine

[LadyofMisrule]

4 children. I don't think any of them have ever had less than two pairs. Either worn out or grown out. DS and DD2 play a lot of football and climb trees; they often get through a pair each term.