Page 3 | Two minds school shoes. Vivienne's

Eddyraisins · 2023-09-08T21:00:36+00:00

https://metro.co.uk/2023/09/06/girl-sent-home-from-school-for-wearing-vivienne-westwood-shoes-19456363/amp/ I am in two minds about this. Speaking from the experience of a teacher with a y11 in my school. My school would not care. All they care about is pupils actually wear shoes. We have a fair few pupils in Viviennes. I would not have known what they are if I didn't have a child in y11. However I do see the argument that a lot of parents cannot afford £100 on shoes. I guess it's like the kickers of the 90s. For PE lessons we can't discriminate and dictate labels for trainers. I am not sure what to think. My dd would like some Viviennes. She is Asd and Adhd and has missed a lot of y10. My school allows them. Should they? Is the school in the linked article too far or is it fair? I could be persuaded either way.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/09/2023 09:26

pumpkintits · 09/09/2023 09:09

Is it the norm in high school/secondary to leave PE shoes at school? It definitely wasn't when I was at school.

Mine are only in primary but they go into school wearing their PE kit and trainers on PE day and they certainly come home with it all on.

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Definetly not the norm no.

twistyizzy · 09/09/2023 09:34

DD wanted a pair of slip ons for secondary school (NOT VE as I would never fork out for those plus they are incredibly chavvy) but she has very narrow feet so can't keep them on. We went for pair of brogues, she hated them until she started wearing them for school and now admits that they are comfy and will keep her feet dry in the wet etc.
Even if she had been able to wear slip ons I would have still made her wear brogues. Slip ons just aren't practical for school.
Parents need to parent their children and not give in to every whim/want.

Jellycats4life · 09/09/2023 09:37

PuttingDownRoots · 08/09/2023 22:36

Was the problem that massive metal charm?

If so... why don't they just remove the charm if its the quality of the shoe that's important?

Are you being deliberately obtuse? The designer emblem is obviously the point of wearing these shoes, and ripping it off would ruin them - literally and figuratively.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 09/09/2023 09:48

The policy is in the website. I’m sure they discussed expectations in transition days and parent meetings before the start of school.
If you ignore the policy then expect an issue. policies are there for a reason and thought will have been put in to ensure that shoes are safe around school and to stop this nonsense around current trends having to be followed so that those unable to afford them don’t suffer socially

CecilyP · 09/09/2023 10:00

Would they suffer socially? I’ve learned from mumsnet this week that the VW pumps are a bit of a craze with teens at the moment (I’ve never actually seen them in real life!) However, the craze will pass. We learn from our mistakes!. Although the reviews are incredibly positive! I’m sure there are plenty girls who think they are as hideous as I do!

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 09/09/2023 10:03

£100 is relatively cheap for a pair of shoes that last ages

My dc are 15 and 18. I bought Clarks shoes (often from their outlet store) almost every year and they have always lasted the year. A couple of times I bought supermarket (still leather) ones and they lasted the year too. I've never paid more than £45.

LittleBearPad · 09/09/2023 10:14

sleepyscientist · 08/09/2023 22:55

@LittleBearPad flannels is quite good for shoes, it has better sales than DS favourite JD.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz how long do you expect shoes to last? DS has just gone up a size so picked Nike Huarches (£120), air force ones (£80), Nike all blacks for school (£70), his crocs still fit. School shoes were footasylum and around £70 so not much cheaper than the Vivs.

£50 or so in Clarks for shoes, £40 in Nike for school trainers. They will last a year. Flannels sells designer shoes - not school shoes.

BeverleyMacker · 09/09/2023 10:16

They're logo'd shoes. Logo'd shoes aren't allowed in school. Not difficult to understand. You'd think parents would research suitable shoes for their children. Stories like this happen every single year 🙄

BeverleyMacker · 09/09/2023 10:21

GuardiansPlayList · 08/09/2023 22:57

I am shocked that anyone thinks £100 is “relatively cheap”. £100 is crazily expensive for a pair of school shoes. Some people must be made of money.

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Dr martens cost this yet my daughter has the boots for school and they've done over a year and still fit. I found we were paying almost £50 in Clarke's and they only lasted a term or 2. You do get what you pay for imho.

LittleBearPad · 09/09/2023 10:26

LittleBearPad · 09/09/2023 10:14

£50 or so in Clarks for shoes, £40 in Nike for school trainers. They will last a year. Flannels sells designer shoes - not school shoes.

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And I looked this morning. There is nothing in black that looks like a shoe for school.

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 09/09/2023 10:30

Dr martens cost this yet my daughter has the boots for school and they've done over a year and still fit. I found we were paying almost £50 in Clarke's and they only lasted a term or 2. You do get what you pay for imho.

DD has been having the M&S patent school shoes (£40 in her size now) for years. Not only do they last the year ,unless she outgrows them, but they're in good enough condition to pass on to one of her friends who gets at least a term or two out of them too.

DanceMumTaxi · 09/09/2023 10:33

My school tried to ban all ballet pumps a few years ago. They didn’t win the battle. Kids are still wearing them and nothing is said anymore.

PuttingDownRoots · 09/09/2023 10:36

Jellycats4life · 09/09/2023 09:37

Are you being deliberately obtuse? The designer emblem is obviously the point of wearing these shoes, and ripping it off would ruin them - literally and figuratively.

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You could say that... but you've proved the point. They aren't buying these shoes because they are good quality they are just buying a name tag.

At least with some of the other brands it is a good quality product!

jusdepamplemousse · 09/09/2023 10:37

Schools seriously need to just wise up and massively chill out about uniforms. It’s always struck me as bloody odd how invested some teachers are in policing it. What the hell does it actually matter what they’re wearing as long as it’s basically safe and appropriate? I remember being yelled at in the early noughties over some ridiculous infraction like wearing a jumper but not a blazer - like properly yelled at - and just thinking god you sad bastard. I was an intelligent and peaceful pupil and relatively well behaved. I still think that teacher was a sad bastard 🤣

NameOutTheBin · 09/09/2023 10:40

Ballet pumps should be banned as school shoes. They're impractical and offer no support to growing feet and skeletons. I don't care if they're designer or not, they're shit.

DanceMumTaxi · 09/09/2023 10:43

The teachers are directed by SLT. I’m a year 11 form teacher. I’m directed by SLT what to check for during form time and send the child to the designated member of staff if their uniform doesn’t comply with expectations. If I don’t do this, and they’re picked up later in the day, SLT will know that I saw them in the morning but didn’t do my job of checking uniform. We are regularly reminded of this during morning briefing, so ultimately I’d end in trouble and I’m not prepared to do that.

ZebraDanios · 09/09/2023 10:45

jusdepamplemousse · 09/09/2023 10:37

Schools seriously need to just wise up and massively chill out about uniforms. It’s always struck me as bloody odd how invested some teachers are in policing it. What the hell does it actually matter what they’re wearing as long as it’s basically safe and appropriate? I remember being yelled at in the early noughties over some ridiculous infraction like wearing a jumper but not a blazer - like properly yelled at - and just thinking god you sad bastard. I was an intelligent and peaceful pupil and relatively well behaved. I still think that teacher was a sad bastard 🤣

I’m a teacher and I couldn’t agree with you more.

fireplacetiles · 09/09/2023 10:46

This school is near to where we live, it is run by an ultra conservative Christian group who have form for teaching creationism (but that's another story) but have very high exam results from their other schools. The uniform rules are very strict and part of the ethos which is basically conform and we will get you good exam results. There are other secondaries nearby so parents have made a choice to send them there, it's not hidden what they are and represent.

CecilyP · 09/09/2023 10:47

DanceMumTaxi · 09/09/2023 10:43

The teachers are directed by SLT. I’m a year 11 form teacher. I’m directed by SLT what to check for during form time and send the child to the designated member of staff if their uniform doesn’t comply with expectations. If I don’t do this, and they’re picked up later in the day, SLT will know that I saw them in the morning but didn’t do my job of checking uniform. We are regularly reminded of this during morning briefing, so ultimately I’d end in trouble and I’m not prepared to do that.

It must be really hard to be caught in the middle of this. I do sympathise.

ZebraDanios · 09/09/2023 10:49

DanceMumTaxi · 09/09/2023 10:43

The teachers are directed by SLT. I’m a year 11 form teacher. I’m directed by SLT what to check for during form time and send the child to the designated member of staff if their uniform doesn’t comply with expectations. If I don’t do this, and they’re picked up later in the day, SLT will know that I saw them in the morning but didn’t do my job of checking uniform. We are regularly reminded of this during morning briefing, so ultimately I’d end in trouble and I’m not prepared to do that.

As a form tutor, it’s absolutely not your fault if you correct their uniform at the start of the day and they mess it up again later, and your SLT should recognise that. Also, like you haven’t got enough to do without scrutinising every detail of what they’re all wearing…

DisquietintheRanks · 09/09/2023 10:51

Sigh. Open top shoes are not safe for chemistry or for tech subjects. Are you really suggesting girls don't take these subjects if their parents can't be arsed to buy them the correct footwear? Or is this yet another thing schools should provide?

itsgettingweird · 09/09/2023 10:59

The only thing about the uniform that I agree with is the skirt.

If schools insist on dressing females up in typical men's office wear to "prepare them for the world of work" then it doesn't surprise me they get all stupid over shoes either.

The sooner schools go back to polos, open neck shirts, knitted or sweatshirt v necks and worrying about actual teaching and learning the better.

And I work in education!

neilyoungismyhero · 09/09/2023 11:01

I wore dark green DMs for my part time personal shopper job. They looked fine to me but was advised I had until next pay day to get a pair of black footwear. Company policy. I didn't argue I wore black DMs.

Oiyouoverthere · 09/09/2023 11:28

Most are fake - you get the for £10 in the corner shop around near my work (behind the counter, obviously). And teenagers are more about fashion over function!

sleepyscientist · 09/09/2023 13:39

DisquietintheRanks · 09/09/2023 10:51

Sigh. Open top shoes are not safe for chemistry or for tech subjects. Are you really suggesting girls don't take these subjects if their parents can't be arsed to buy them the correct footwear? Or is this yet another thing schools should provide?

What if they are willing to take the risk? Health and safety has gone mad, I work in a lab with worse chemicals than what you play with in school. Yet for us pumps are fine. We aren't allowed sandals but if you asked any of the leadership team they would be happy to say at your own risk if they could.....and them wear as-well.

I'm the same scientist in my Pj's, sport wear, scrubs or a suit.