School has banned Kickers shoes! I have bought them for DS. AIBU to to let him wear them and start a fight with them if they try to sanction him?

[CarefulDriver]

DS is starting secondary school next week. The school uniform regulations on the school website dictate that they wear black shoes (no trainer like shoes). Fine.

I bought him a pair of Kickers as I wanted comfy shoes which will last him most of the year. I know from previous experience with DS1 and 2 that the ‘businessman’ style shoes don’t last if they’re playing footie at break! Most of the DCs at their school wore Kickers and so did they once I caught on.

Chatting to friend who’s DC is also going to the same school yesterday and apparently the school has banned shoes with visible branding on which Kickers have. This is not on the main school uniform webpage which is what I checked to get his uniform but on a sub page for new Yr7s which I had read but only skimmed over the uniform bit as assumed it was the same as the main page.

I spent £68 on shoes, which IMO are common school shoes, he may not now be able to wear. He won’t be wearing out of school either obviously! I got them online direct from Kickers with a 14 day return policy which has runout now.

WIBU to just send him in on his first day in them?

I'd take a screenshot of the main uniform page and email the school and explain the problem.

I wouldn't just send him in, you don't want him to be told off/singled out on his first day!

I would send him in them and if they complain ask them to show where on their uniform policy it says they are banned.

The only thing that would put me off this approach is if my DC would be mortified (which going into Y7 I guess they might be)

Can the branding be removed or blacked out? I doubt the teachers will be looking too closely at the kids shoes.

Can you remove the green and red tabs from the shoes? Or colour them in with a marker pen so they're less obvious?
All these school uniform rules are getting a bit daft. Nowhere else is a uniform so micromanaged by a 'manager' and if it is extremely specific, it is provided by the company. I agree with upholding standards and school uniforms but they have to be affordable and practical, not just shiny and new for the first week but falling apart by half term. I'd just send him in in the Kickers, see if they notice, then say that it doesn't mention it in the main school uniform part of the website (screenshot it now incase of updates later) so you bought school shoes that fit their brief. Kickers are obviously school shoes rather than smart/out of school footwear and it'd be unfair to say the shoes are not appropriate now.

Just cut the tag off with a stanley knife.

Oh sorry, took so long to type my waffle I see it's already been suggested! Ignore my repetitive comment.

If they ban branding then just colour in the kickers tag with black marker or carefully cut it off.

You are risking him getting put in isolation until correct shoes are purchased. This is what happens at my DSS old school. Academies are tough

Most schools round here don't allow them. I would get them changed.

@PheasantsNest

Most schools round here don't allow them. I would get them changed.

she can’t get them changed, that’s the point…

I'd send him in them anyway. They can't ban them after the start of the school year - that's really unfair.

Worst case, get a marker pen on the labels.

Cut the tag off, problem solved.

I sent one of the DDs in non-uniform school shoes (black, bland, tiniest branding possible) as she has big feet and the usual styles simply didn’t work. There was a bit of explaining to do but it was ok eventually.

@TheRebelle

Can the branding be removed or blacked out? I doubt the teachers will be looking too closely at the kids shoes.

Ha! You clearly haven’t got kids in secondary school. OP I don’t blame you. Another ridiculous fucking rule we have to abide by in the name of “uniform”. Kickers are perfectly acceptable school shoes-sturdy, comfortable and smart. No way would I back down, and I wouldn’t be damaging them by attempting to cut the branding off either.

I put yabu, not because I don't like kickers, I do but because of you just send him in them it's him that will have to deal with the repercussions for something that's essentials his control and if he's just going into year seven that will be very daunting for him.
Also you've also said the information was available, although not prominently I agree.
I'd return the shoes as they haven't been worn and get suitable ones.
My dcs school are very strict on uniform and it would be noticed and they'd get detention and negative behaviour points.
Not saying I agree but thems the rules.

Just cut the labels off.

I’d buy new ones and sell them on whole they are still new. My DDs school regularly hits the press for their attention to detail with uniform.

Just cut the tag off.

You would be massively unreasonable to kick off at the school for their uniform rules, especially as the parent of a new year 7. That reputation will follow you, and you will be known as a difficult parent.

@Mintjulia

Just cut the labels off.

You can’t, kickers aren’t like that. The labels are tiny but very closely sewn to the shoes.

Thing is it won’t be you who is dealing with it, it will be your DS
It’s high school, and totally different from primary and it won’t be your fight
I would just cut the labels off as previously suggested

IME it is the logo/ label the school objects to. I remember having to carefully colour in logos with a ball point pen on various items of clothing. Sometimes it is impossible to get a suitable item that is completely plain.
If you can remove or obscure all identifying marks that should be ok.

DD's school banned branded shoes with obvious logos. If it is easy to remove the logo then you don't have an issue.

I would point out to the school that it needs to be more obvious on their website though.

@doingnothing if it was any of the schools local to me the child would not be allowed past the gate. The OP either purchases new shoes or risks her child being excluded.

They have the name on the heel as well in big letters in bright green and red as well as the tag on the front though.

Why should I have to deface a brand new pair shoes just because of a stupid rule they’ve just brought in .

Kids have been wearing Kickers to school for years!

Why do we have to put up with this crap?

@Thehogfatherstolemycurry she already said she can't return them as they're out of the 14 day return window.