So are these school shoes or trainers

[Shoesortrainers]

School have published their amended policy from Sept. This style is showed as unacceptable as they apparently trainers.

Er no they are school shoes and they
are the ONLY ones that fit my wide footed , high instep child. Believe me we’ve tried and tried over the years. They are just like me unfortunately. Plus sensory issues too.

School shoes must also be black and of polishable leather (they are!)

School refusing to budge. In fact the teacher dealing with uniform is being very rude and obstructive.

So Mumsnet are these shoes or trainers.

I used to volunteer at our (independent) school uniform shop - so we were the 'uniform police' to an extent. These would pass as school shoes. They would not be suitable for games.

These school uniform policies are bollocks. Obviously there is a fine dividing line between shoes/trainers given the different responses but they are definitely smart, practical, comfortable black footwear and suitable for school.

They are shoes, and it even describes them as shoes.

School shoes, my sen boys use to wear these. If needs must say you can get a doctors letter saying they he has wide feet and high instep but the school pay.

I would say shoes. Clarke's shows an image of a boy in uniform shorts wearing them. They look smart enough for school but also comfortable enough to wear all day which is important.

Hm, now you’ve clarified it’s for secondary I can sort of understand the school - these are young children’s school shoes, by secondary I imagine most schools expect smarter lace ups.

My DS's new school (secondary) has said that shoes for school have to have a 'defined heel'.
However, there are exceptions for students with SEN, so if your DS has sensory issues it might be worth having a chat with the school.

They look like standard primary school shoes but not ones that would be worn by secondary age children. Are the school confused because they don't see shoes like that very often?

It doesn't matter though what other people think you need to challenge the person making the rules but I would t lead with mumsnet thinks you're wrong 😀

I’m not sure if this image will show up.

I agree they are shoes. I would ask the school if they are suitable trainers, they’ll probably say they aren’t trainers for PE etc.

Yes trainers. Not school shoes most school old wouldn't allow those

They are shoes. What else is the school wrong about?

It doesn't actually matter what we think, sorry. School says no.

I dont understand why schools are so pretty about small details like this.

Shoes. What a ridiculous over step.

Whatever they are the teacher really should have better things to worry about. If someone is wearing AirForce 1s where there’s no doubt fair enough but wanting to spend time arguing the toss over these smacks of someone on a power trip.

Well the school aren’t saying they’re trainers, to be fair. They’re saying that they’re not a formal smart shoe. I’m surprised that style even comes in teenager sizes, you must be able to find some lace ups that will fit him?

I work in a Clarks. Scape Sky and Scape Flare are in our top five biggest selling boys school shoes in the UK every single year. Hundreds of pairs a week in our store through August, September, January and April. Multiple thousands of pairs nationwide. Your school are idiots.

The school are being ridiculous.

With it being a secondary school they've said formal black shoes.
The shoes you've posted aren't formal black shoes. They're black trainer-like school shoes that are typically worn in primary school.

I would imagine they've drawn a line on trainer-esque shoes to avoid the inevitable 'how much like trainers can we get away with buying/if I find a pair of cool branded trainers in all black can we avoid following the uniform' approach that some families take.

So they want the boys to wear shoes you'd wear to a wedding and cost a fortune and the girls to have wet feet and wear shoes you can pick up for a fiver are are not at all formal and will offer no support to their feet.

What a bonkers assortment of footwear.

These are school shoes - most boys would wear similar in primary school as they are comfortable and practical.

However, I see your son is secondary school age and I have 2 boys now secondary age and they no longer wear these styles. Loafers or brogues or other "men's office wear" type shoes are what is commonly worn and expected by schools.

As your son has sensory issues you can definitely argue this though for a "reasonable adjustment". Does your son want to continue wearing this style though or once he sees other boys wearing more grown up styles will he want them?

The picture from the schools uniform standards clearly shows them as not allowed. It doesn't really matter if Clarks say they are shoes or not. The school has put that type down as not allowed

These are clearly school shoes not trainers and have been fine for us throughout primary school, however are not acceptable for senior school in September when formal slip on or lace up shoes are required.

They look like little boys shoes. Unless there's an, i would expect laces by age 11