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.

Exactly. My kids are past school age now, and I AM a supporter of uniform, and can be a huge stickler for just doing as you’re told, but common sense seems to have flown out of the window.

I’m in Scotland and in my experience, I’ve not heard of secondary schools here being as OTT about these minute details such as shoes and haircuts-I mean, kids being put in isolation because their hair’s too short-FFS!!

My dd had very narrow feet, and the only shoes which fitted were Start Rite. On one occasion she needed school shoes in the summer term the only pair which were a good fit were pearlescent pink leather. They were bought. A teacher raised the question with her (she was 6 ffs), and was advised by me the next day that if she could source that shoe in navy then she was very welcome to buy them for my daughter. Not another word was said.

None of those ballet pump style shoes would be acceptable at my dds school as they are not classed as a sturdy shoe, which is roughly our policy.

What way is OP seeking to 'take a mile'? She has valid reasons for her DC to wear this type of shoe, which to any half-normal school would be completely fine as a school shoe. It's advertised as such.

It's the school acting bizarrely that's the issue.

Sorry, uniform shouldn’t be based on DC running around at lunchtime. They are in school to learn.

If there is a club at lunchtime that requires trainers, that is fine as long as they get the headteacher’s permission. Otherwise, they should be in normal uniform.

Ds has these https://www.marksandspencer.com/kids-leather-lace-up-school-shoes-13-small-10-large-/p/clp60256866?image=SD_04_T72_8441B_Y0_X_EC_90&color=BLACK&prevPage=srp with an insole and they have been comfortable from day 1 for him. Once his feet stop growing we will probably move him into DMs like his siblings as they also suit a wide foot and are durable. The school version does not have yellow laces.

Some schools though do spend far too long obsessing over uniform. I found though a letter from a doctor tends to massively open doors.

Shoes without a doubt!

They look like trainers to me

It doesn't matter what we think.
It's what the school decides.
You obviously have little faith in the school and the relationship has broken down. Is there another school he could go to?

'I AM a supporter of uniform, and can be a huge stickler for just doing as you’re told, but common sense seems to have flown out of the window.'

I am too but 'black trousers' should suffice not this 'must be classic range from Asda or m&s no New Look skinny smut'. Funny how they then go to college wearing crop tops and mini skirts and manage ro do perfectly well in ALevels and all the male staff manage to control themselves.

The photo of what is allowed makes me absolutely rage. The girls selection is appalling for feet. Who makes these ridiculous decisions.

If it’s to prepare for the working world then I work in a senior marketing role and wear trainers, DH is a director in FS and wears blue suede slip ons. So absolutely ridiculous that kids should be forced into an outdated vision of shoes.

Madness.

Yes they are in school to learn academically - as well as emotionally and physically.

They should be wearing footwear that allows them engaged in easy physical activity without a problem - not a structured club where they change footwear.

Physical activity and movement is of huge importance for children & teen's wellbeing.

What century are you living in?

They are school shoes, the picture even shows the child wearing them with school uniform.

Not trainers, the sole of the shoe is the normal type. I would buy them as school shoes for primary.

How are those ballet slip-ons and crunched up elasticated ones any better than the ones you've chosen - which are shoes! Those choices look pretty sexist to me too - dainty shoes for the girls, sturdy shoes for the boys. 🙄

From the opposite point of view, why does the school have to be so concerned about what shoes the kids wear? Surely the kids being comfortable is the most important thing. We have all these teachers strikes because teachers complain they are overworked. Maybe if they give up their duties as shoe police as a start, this would help!

My DS isn’t at school yet, but he has to wear special orthotic insoles in his shoes, meaning I always have to find shoes where the existing insole is removable. That’s hard enough as it is. The school can tell me off as much as they want, I won’t be changing the shoes.

Why do the school say they need sturdy shoes, are they taking them hiking? They dont need sturdy shoes to sit in a classroom and have a quick runaround in the playground.

I completely share your frustration. My bigger issue is that my high-masking autistic dc will not rock the boat.
It seems such a bizarre thing to be so strict about, particularly as office standards relaxed about 20 years ago. Dh, who works in formal suits dropped his ties several years ago because they’re no longer worn in his circle (business owners, and senior management)

The only people still trapped in stultifying clothes are school kids. When will schools move on from Victorian standards and start meeting the needs of the 21st century?

Oh, believe you me, @MariaVT65 - most of us would love no uniform! Policing it is a headache. However, parents, governors, SLT all seem in favour of these strict uniforms. Classroom teachers have no say.

Shoes

They are shoes all day long. On dds secondary, practically all boys wear dms and all girls wear dms or kickers. They are strict on shoes. They let go of the "lace up" bit of the code because it was seen as not disability friendly.
But on the basis of are they shoes or trainers they are clearly shoes.

@SummerDuck I wish I’d taken miles and miles from this school. Things would be oh so different. I’m not intent on being disruptive. I simply want some common sense and focus on what actually matters to a child’s education.

Professionally i have lots of contact with children who have been failed by the education system. Children who had teachers that focused more on uniform issues and less on recongnising that the kids had managed to get into school that day despite multiple barriers to do so. Kids being in school, ready to learn…. Let’s focus on that. Not sodding shoe shoes. They are shoes, not trainers. I can’t wait any kind of heel. They wear out and hurt my knees.

Who needs formal office shoes . It’s a school. A place of learning. Not a court concourse or a London office.

Im ranting now. Mostly cos I’m have much bigger things to worry about…..

They dont need sturdy shoes to sit in a classroom and have a quick runaround in the playground.

They need suitable footwear to walk to school, play football at lunchtime, run around the yard - and simply because most teens dislike wearing formal leather shoes with poor grip, as indeed is the case for many adults.

How do you know he is doing his job? I mean, he may be, or he may. be a petty jobsworth who enjoys the limited power being in charge of uniform gives him.

Sadly not.

Im going to be a lot less tolerant and accepting this time round though.

I simply want some common sense and focus on what actually matters to a child’s education.

OP, YANBU in anything you say. I'm sorry you've had such a difficult experience with this school.