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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

395 replies

CovidIsADick · 05/10/2021 14:59

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.

To ask if these are acceptable to wear as school shoes?
To ask if these are acceptable to wear as school shoes?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Frumpypigskin · 05/10/2021 16:56

They wouldn't be acceptable at our school. The soles have to have a heel rather than be straight across like a trainer.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 05/10/2021 16:58

Mara246 🤣 ... you have a point there!

All the reasons trotted out for uniform being an equaliser/ marking the division between home and school/ preventing bullying sound good in a year seven class debate, but anyone who has experience in both uniform and (long term) non uniform school systems knows that they fall down in practice - they aren't actually true.

Children in uniform schools are more fixated on tiny details of clothing/ bags/ pencil cases/ coats/ hair/ how the uniform is worn/ what's under it, than any child who's never worn a uniform. The absolute circus of a secondary school "Mufti" day with 11 year olds with thongs sticking out above skin tight low waisted jeans and playboy branded crop tops is an absolute jaw droppingly dreadful b movie horror show. On a regular day everyone knows which 12 year old boy is wearing his big sister's stretched out hand me down school jumper, and its the worn out, stained uniforms that mark out the kids who really can't afford new or who's parents have other priorities or aren't coping. The middle and upper middle class kids are in correct uniform in KS3 but are allowed, tacitly, to push a few boundaries in KS4, especially if they're either charming or in top sets. Plenty of kids who don't enjoy academic work game the system by deliberately infringing uniform rules to waste class time or get sent out. So much time is wasted.

Children in Europe who've never worn uniform just go to school in jeans and a t shirt/ jumper and trainers and no, they don't take any longer getting dressed than children who wear nylon blazers and ties and to whom school shoes means something other than just whichever shoes are on your feet as you walk to school.

daisyjgrey · 05/10/2021 16:59

They should be fine, as any logical person can recognise that someone's shoes do not impact on their ability to grasp algebra; however they're probably not allowed as schools enjoy frothing about pointless things like shoes.

daisyjgrey · 05/10/2021 17:00

@WeepySheepy

They are clearly trainers and have a big swoosh logo on them. They don't look smart. No one would wear them to an interview for an office job.

He's not going for an interview for an office job, he's a child going to school.

Simonjt · 05/10/2021 17:01

They’re trainers not shoes, odd how only a stylish pair of nikes are comfy…especially as they’re actually quite narrow in the toe

Cocomarine · 05/10/2021 17:02

@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?
It’s about context really. I could say to my child, “go and put some shoes on” and that wouldn’t mean no trainers - just any footwear. If I were getting ready to go out to the shops I might say, “I’m just putting my shoes on” - even if they were trainers. But if I were getting ready to specifically go for a run, I’d most likely say, “I’m just putting my trainers on” - because that’s relevant to the activity.

If you said you bought some new shoes today, you probably wouldn’t mean trainers - as trainers are a big enough class in their own right that you’d likely be specific.

“School shoes” definitely implies more formal, stiffer shoes - even though the rules vary between schools!

TreeTurningYellow · 05/10/2021 17:02

[quote TataMamma]@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.[/quote]
Completely agree that his surgery completely changes this situation. Do school even know about the surgery on his feet?

Supply details of trying on so many different shoes etc to support your case. Get an email fired off tonight over it. Show that you are willing to abide by the rules and you believed that you were.

BakingOfTheFoodCats · 05/10/2021 17:04

They would be fine in my kids primary but I think Secondary are usually stricter

astoundedgoat · 05/10/2021 17:09

They are trainers, but that having been said, on PE days at my daughter's (single sex conservative indie secondary, if that's relevant) school she goes in wearing her PE kit and to save her carrying her quite heavy school shoes (she has enormous feet all of a sudden!) she wears these - www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-ash-lace-junior-trainers-092219#colcode=09221903 - trainers and keeps them on for the day. Nobody has said anything to her about it yet!

The school is being precious, but I wouldn't be bothered fighting them on it. We both know they're not "smart" school uniform shoes. You gave it a shot and they've said no, so get him proper school shoes and keep these for PE.

To ask if these are acceptable to wear as school shoes?
SheikhMaraca · 05/10/2021 17:09

It really depends what the policy says in its entirety.

Our secondary specifically states that trainers are not acceptable.

If all the policy says is that laces must be black, and is silent on the point of trainerishness, then you’re good to go.

I suspect you’re selectively quoting the shoe policy here though.

Karleeb30 · 05/10/2021 17:11

Personally I don't see an issue but I can see why the school may see an issue as they are like trainers and also have a brand on them. My secondary school allowed trainers under the condition they are all black! Worked well. Others are stricter. YANBU though. Stupid uniform rules.

Ds starts secondary next year and I'm dreading it. He has issues with his feet too. Normal shoes are rubbish for him. At primary he's been wearing Adidas tenasaur trainers but won't be allowed them at secondary 😩

PyjamaFan · 05/10/2021 17:11

Surely it depends entirely on what the uniform policy says?

SheikhMaraca · 05/10/2021 17:11

Apologies, I missed your second post, containing a huge drip feed.

If he has a medical note from his doctor, then yes the school should make all reasonable adjustments including flexibility on the shoe policy.

whatistheworld · 05/10/2021 17:12

@Pinkandpink

I work for a well known shoe retailer and we have sold thousands of these for school kids. Both my kids have air max and they look smart and last a lot longer than shoes. Our school dosent mind as long as they are black.
Exactly this, they are leather, sensible, comfortable and last longer then shoes. Great value for money too at £65 approx compared to shoes for adult sized feet
SuperstarDog · 05/10/2021 17:12

They’re trainers not shoes, odd how only a stylish pair of nikes are comfy…especially as they’re actually quite narrow in the toe

They are trainers but they are actually not narrow. My son wears these for his part time job, he has wide feet, used to be ‘h‘ fit in Clarke’s, often has to size up for width but didn’t have to with these. He says they’re really comfy so with OPs sons medical issue I can see why they’d be comfortable.

Bagamoyo1 · 05/10/2021 17:14

Given the medical issues I would actually fight this one OP.
The school shoe thing is a nightmare. I remember showing the photo of permitted and not permitted shoes for DS’s school to the manager of Clarke’s . Some were obvious (big coloured logo etc) but there was one pair that appeared in both categories, and neither of us could tell the difference. They were literally identical.

MajorCarolDanvers · 05/10/2021 17:16

YANBU perfectly good as school shoes.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 05/10/2021 17:16

They're trainers which most schools don't allow.

Ladywholoveswine · 05/10/2021 17:17

@CovidIsADick Can you get a letter from your doctor? It’s important he is comfortable in what he’s wearing.
These also wouldn’t be acceptable at my sons secondary school, they are very strict on footwear and general uniform.

SamMil · 05/10/2021 17:19

They look like trainers to me.

However, as he has extenuating medical circumstances, I would call the school to explain/discuss.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 05/10/2021 17:19

@Oblomov21

Of course YABU They are trainers. But you knew that.
Agree 100%
ChristopherTracy · 05/10/2021 17:22

If you can buy them in JD Sports then they are unlikely to pass as school shoes. Double for a pair of Air Forces.

Walkingalot · 05/10/2021 17:22

Start-Rite do affordable wide fitting school appropriate shoes. My DS has wide feet (G/H) and normal shoes cripple him.

Stuckhere2021 · 05/10/2021 17:24

@SusieBob

Ah, bullshit school uniform rules again. Who the fuck cares other than head teachers with nothing fucking better to do with their time?

They are black, they look smart enough and they are probably more comfortable than stupid hard leather shoes. But some twat has come up with an arbitrary rule so they aren't allowed.

This ^^.

I detest this type of school snobbery. It’s school, not the frigging army. But ….. if it’s a school rule then YABU to allow your DC to flout it.

BlueMongoose · 05/10/2021 17:25

School uniform is a stupid idea, to my mind (and I was a teacher, BTW). But to insist on anything re shoes beyond safe and practical is worse than stupid. Lots of us have odd feet and struggle to get shoes to fit at all, never mind of a specific colour.
I have foot/leg problems now because my stupid school insisted on black leather shoes, at a time when the only black leather ones I could get were too wide or too short, even from Clarks' who claimed to measure feet. They would always measure my feet, then explain they didn't make shoes that shape and I'd have to have what they'd got.
Sensible black trainers, or shoes of other colours which fitted, would have been far better. More comfortable, and far better for my feet and knees. Decent modern trainers are better for your feet than most shoes.