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.

Oh, poor thing! That's a very specific problem and I'm glad you clarified - I definitely had got the impression you were talking about something much more vague. I totally see why you'd want him to wear these, with that added context.

They're trainers?

Our school would let the kids wear these. The only thing I can suggest is asking them!

Regardless of the trainers/shoes debate, those don't look a healthy shape for feet anyway - the toebox is too tapered.

OP, have a look into barefoot shoes which are actually foot-shaped and have decent wide toeboxes. Plenty of examples on this website (I have no affiliation, but they stock a decent range): www.happylittlesoles.co.uk/products/school-shoes.html

@Doll9172

They're so ugly though

Just what a kid's mum who struggles to find suitable shoes would need to hear. Grief, what's wrong with some people.

I've said YABU as they are trainers and against the rules but I do sympathise. My DS has very similar problems and I found him fitflop mens shoes. They really do look like school shoes but are incredibly comfortable and have been a real game changer

@CovidIsADick
I would defo write to the school asap. Summarise the medical situation, and then take your time to get the supporting evidence.
And make clear what the rules are, and they are not a breach.
And if you really want to annoy them, point out that giving a 12 year old detention bc of something their parents have done is really not on.

Given the additional context, I'd ask his GP to write a letter

They are branded so obviously a trainer sorry

School uniform generally is a real bugbear of mine - that certain schools insist on £80 blazers or (in our area) that girls wear £50 tartan kilts. All school uniform should be able to be sourced from supermarkets and the only branded items should be the blazer badge and tie.

And if footwear is the prescribed colour, then that's fine, irrespective of who makes it or whether it's perceived as a trainer, a shoe or a boot.

Surely if you explained this to the school, even if it is outside their usual uniform policy they could make an exception! Have you tried to discuss it with them?

@CovidIsADick it sounds like he has a genuine reason to wear them to be fair!

They would not be accepted at my daughter’s school as branded. She goes to an SEN school so trainers are permitted but and branded/logo/decorated items are not unless it is the school logo.
They do insist on uniform and ask parents when their children grow out of uniform if they are willing to donate to the school. This allows them to assist any parents unable to afford uniform as they pass donated items on for free.
Their reason for uniform is threefold
Firstly gets the child/ren in the mindset for school so they know they are expected to behave and work a certain way. It gives separation needed to allow children to know when they can do certain things like screen time or pyjama day. It defines a clear line that helps.
Secondly everyone dressed the same means there is no distinction between cost as the only logo’d items are tops, jumpers, cardigan and book bag. All other items can be purchased from any shop so long as they follow the criteria of no logos or brands etc.
Finally when on trips, if a child wanders they can be traced and located quickly as the school and its uniform are well known in the community as they raise a lot of money for local charities

my son's school would not allow these as they are trainers.

They would have been fine in my kids secondary school. My girls wore trainers like that throughout - and they were never crazy ££ -

As long as they were completely black with no coloured logo, white sole, etc, they were allowed.

I voted YANBU - they’re plain black, comfortable shoes - they should be perfectly acceptable

uniforms matter because it's how the students present themselves, they're representatives of the school, and taking that into consideration, I felt the need to comment that they're ugly, and they are. I shouldn't need to explain myself

I don't have any helpful suggestions, but the school are out of their bloody minds. I didn't even notice the black on black Nike symbol until someone pointed it out. I bet with school trousers it's even less noticeable. I can see why they might not want pupils in wildly unsuitable or garish footwear, but this level of nitpicking pedantry over a choice that's not about style but a child's wellbeing is taking uniform policy too far. Where's the educational benefit in having a child in pain all day?

Change the laces to round waxed ones and you should be fine!

Just a language question: from this thread I gather that in the UK a shoe is a specific type of footwear distinct from e.g. a trainer and not (as I and probably many other non-native speakers have learned) a general term for footwear that would include "sporty shoes" and be distinct from e.g. a boot?

They're trainers. Stop being one of those hilarious cliched front-of-the-local-news mums who's pretending she doesn't know the difference between a pair of smart office-style school shoes and a pair of trainers. You just look silly.

uniforms matter because it's how the students present themselves, they're representatives of the school, and taking that into consideration, I felt the need to comment that they're ugly, and they are.

Nothing like as ugly as your average uniform

@bongsuhan

Just a language question: from this thread I gather that in the UK a shoe is a specific type of footwear distinct from e.g. a trainer and not (as I and probably many other non-native speakers have learned) a general term for footwear that would include "sporty shoes" and be distinct from e.g. a boot?

"Put your shoes on" would refer to any and all shoes, really, so could include trainers. "You should wear shoes outdoors" again, it means 'general footwear." But this is only in generic, casual use.

School-related specifics, that matters. So when school say 'smart shoes only', they really mean only a smart shoe, not boots or sandals or trainers or wellies or flip flops.

No wonder teachers get slated.

I don’t think the teachers actually care. It comes from the powers above but the teachers are made to enforce it.

Please speak to the school and explain the medical issue. Normally I'm a stickler for uniform rules but there is clearly a medical issue at play here.

Explain the medical reason and get an exemption from the rules