To ask if these are acceptable to wear as school shoes?

[CovidIsADick]

My son has just been put into detention for the second day in a row for wearing the wrong shoes. He has been threatened with a fixed term exclusion too. Their uniform policy says if their shoes have laces they must be black and that they can’t be canvas. These look smart, they have black laces and they are leather. My DS has issues with his feet because of their shape and normal school shoes hurt him. We’ve tried so many different brands.

YANBU- these are acceptable as school shoes.

YABU- the school is right.

Good Lord. You've have thought that, with the traumatic last 18+ months that we've had due to Covid, no schooling, online schooling, "bubbles" that burst, the fear and misinformation we've experienced, the last thing a school would dig their heels in was in connection with these perfectly respectable and comfortable footwear.

Maybe, OP, take up the suggestion of a couple of PPs and get your child a medical exemption, whilst still maintaining the black, leather, laces etc and go from there.

Good luck - and let's hope some common sense is applied by your son's school... 🌹

They are quite clearly trainers not shoes.

@Mischance

Well, it's not up to us to decide whether they are acceptable, is it? It's what's acceptable to the school that's important.

No it is not - sanity and commonsense are what matter.

God almighty, you would think teachers have enough to be thinking about without disrupting this young man's education over a pair of shoes. The world has gone mad!

‘Teachers’ have no choice but to uphold whatever standard the school chooses, whether or not they agree with it. In my experience, ‘teachers’ have no influence over uniform, curriculum or pretty much any sort of decision making.

@ this is worsethan anticipated.totally agree with you.Other countries in Europe concentrate on educating their children and not putting emphasis on what shoes to wear.I feel so sorry for british children!

YANBU, but I would have said YANBU even if they were pink sparkly trainers.

Schools are ridiculous about this. They trot out things like "wearing the wrong shoes causes disruption to students education", but how is putting children in detention and threatening them with expulsion helping their education, exactly?

Surely wearing shoes that are comfortable is better than forcing children into shoes that hurt their feet all day in the name of education and conformity.

One thing I note is that when I left school and started my first job - there is a dress code. No trainers - if I wore them i would be sent home to get changed with no pay. If it continued it would be a disciplinary matter. For women it was a skirt or smart trousers and a blouse - if I'd worn a tshirt and jeans I would have been in trouble. They later brought in dress down Friday which was exciting!

I guess what I'm trying to say is there is no harm in children knowing there are rules to follow in life. No one wore trainers when I was at school 40 years ago - we were smart and we all survived. Save the £100 trainers for the weekend.

It’s bizarre to me that a school wouldn’t allow those when they are smart, plain and durable.

I think these perfectly nice and plain trainers are banned at most of the secondary schools in my city expect the one nearest my house which either doesn't care or doesn't enforce the rule as every single year 7 is wearing them on vans.

Obviously trainers kill off brain cells everyone knows that surely....

One thing I note is that when I left school and started my first job - there is a dress code. No trainers - if I wore them i would be sent home to get changed with no pay.

Dress codes in workplaces across the board have become significantly more relaxed in the last 20 years, with certain sectors in particular having no real dress code to speak of.

The idea that school uniform rules in U.K. schools are somehow a preparation for the workplace is, in 2021, absolutely absurd.

They wouldn't have been allowed at DD's old school. Stupid, pointless rule in my view but that's what it said.

I would be in favour of schools scrapping uniform altogether, but if there is a uniform, many parents do judge a school on how scruffy or smart it is. I've heard it with my own ears and seen it on mumsnet. Schools need bums on seats so that's probably why they don't want trainers.

@Bullsh

The school are hardly going to say "oh Mumsnet think they're ok so yes of course we'll change our uniform policy for one child who refuses to adhere to it" are they!

Nobody on here has suggested that FFS Making stuff up doesn't enhance your argument you know.

I speak as someone who has bumps on my heels, not unusual, but I need shoes that fit otherwise I get blisters on my heels. I would get a letter from the dr to confirm you need some flexibility on style due to the need to have shoes that fit. I'm in my 70's now so it was far easier to buy classic shoes in my day.

I'd even write to my MP

@PheasantsNest

They are quite clearly trainers not shoes.

Wow, well done! No-one on this thread has said that yet!!! Give yourself a medal.

Must say I'm enjoying all these people saying first port of call is a podiatrist. We've been waiting for a year now to have my daughter seen for suspected plantar fasciitis. So if I required a doctors note for her to wear trainers to school I'd be up shit creek. As it is, her school fortunately care more about educating the children than disrupting their learning because they aren't wearing the "right" shoes despite them being black leather lace ups like the OP said was required.
Can't imagine the state secondary I'm currently working in would care about black leather trainers either. In fact they don't really care about white ones, but then again I'm in Scotland and I don't think we're as strict on uniform here because it can't be classed as compulsory.

@MyPatronusIsACat Are you always such a bitch?

They look like trainers to me. But you need to follow school rules or get a note from your gp. Who will be too busy to do it anyway,.

Should be no uniform or flexibility. My son hates schools even our primary is insisting on shoes this year no black trainers, it's distracting as he finds them uncomfortable. No medical reason multiple pairs of Clark's, kickers, start right etc tried and they just don't suit him. Would it not be better that kids are comfortable than look the part. We wear scrubs with trainers as wait for it they are comfortable and supportive. I'm sure no one would turn down care, just because of what's on a doctors feet. As a society I think we need to stop focusing on appearance which can start with school kids

@HuckleberryJam

I would be in favour of schools scrapping uniform altogether, but if there is a uniform, many parents do judge a school on how scruffy or smart it is. I've heard it with my own ears and seen it on mumsnet. Schools need bums on seats so that's probably why they don't want trainers.

It's a daft concept. 4 year olds wearing "smart" grey trousers and restrictive shoes. Brownies and Scouts have uniforms but they're things like joggers, leggings and sweatshirts that kids can be comfortable in. I would like to see uniforms abolished but even if schools believe they level the playing field, I don't see why they have to be such comfortable restrictive clothes. It's just what adults think is needed because that's what they had at school and they can't comprehend a different way of doing things.

It's not as if children in countries with no school uniforms somehow can't cope with work uniforms as adults, or are all failing their education.

@TheKeatingFive I'm still working in the same job - and the same standards apply. Not all workplaces are casual.

Slightly off topic but has he seen a podiatrist?

I have wide, flat feet. My arches are collapsed, wide fit shoes are still snug and after periods of inactivity my feet hurt when I take the first few steps. I also have had partial plantar facial tears because the plantar is stretched beyond its limit.

A good podiatrist has spent time with me, built up insoles for my shoes specifically to help raise my arches which has made me feet less wide, so I can fit into wide fit shoes, and he recommended I wear shoes with a very small heel that come over my ankle, and wrote a note for my school/workplace to that effect too.

Shop bought insoles didn't cut it, but now I'm fine. I can wear "normal" shoes.

Can your son see a podiatrist?

NorthernStarss yet in many European countries with no school uniform at all office environments are often more formal than the UK and uniformed services manage to wear uniforms. How do you square that circle?

@Viviennemary

They look like trainers to me. But you need to follow school rules or get a note from your gp. Who will be too busy to do it anyway,.

That IS an issue. My GP took 5 weeks to get a letter to my friend who needed a 'doctor's note' for something...

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

NorthernStarss yet in many European countries with no school uniform at all office environments are often more formal than the UK and uniformed services manage to wear uniforms. How do you square that circle?

Well, yeah. I think it's a bit mad to say only the schools with super strict ridiculous uniform policies will have children who do well academically.

[quote PheasantsNest]@MyPatronusIsACat Are you always such a bitch?[/quote]
I was going more for sarcastic than bitchy. Coz 100 people have already said what you said.

Sorry. I didn't mean to be a bitch! The sarcy answer aimed at you (when dozens of other had said it too,) was unnecessary ...

Please accept my apologies......