To buy high street shoes for school? Thoughts welcome

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AIBU to consider getting cheaper high street school shoes this year, because of the cost at specialist shoe shops (e.g. Clarks)? Or is it best to have decent width fitted shoes that will last?

I worked at clarkes years ago but always go for cheaper shoes for my kids. Sainsburys are quite good. However this year I've got my daughter clarkes as she is starting secondary school and her last pair from deichman fell apart inside. I went to clarkes outlet in ashford. They are guaranteed for 3 months and cost 35 quid

Interesting that they give twins a 20% discount but not siblings!!! Do you have to take proof that they're twins in with you?

I got my son some and they fell apart

I’m eight years into buying school shoes; for the first few years a pair of Clarks always lasted the year. This time last year I bought for all 3 DC, two pairs were trashed by Easter (one with a massive hole in the sole) and one grown out of. M&S are half the price

Not read the whole thread so apologies if it’s already been said……m&s do a good range…..half sizes and 3 different widths…..it’s trial and error so I often have ordered 4 pairs for my GC and then sent 3 of them back…..but they have lasted a good 2 terms and been hardwearing

DD has just gone to wearing slip ons at secondary and her Clarkes ones lasted a month!! She’s not even doing much in them. Got some slip ons with chunky soles from Next and they lasted the rest of last year and are fine to start this year in as they look brand new. Never going back to Clarkes!

Clarks is definitely high street …..they are not what they used to be….scuff far more easily

The most important thing is that they fit well. The only advantage of going into Clarks or anywhere else is that you get a professional to check the fit. But if you’re confident doing it yourself then buy from wherever. If we’re talking reception age then they’re going to need replacing mid year anyway because their feet grow so fast so I’d be less fussed on the quality. By year 2 I found startrite were definitely worth the extra money as a single pair could do the year without being outgrown. My school nursery age child has the Adidas Tensaur which are excellent for cost, comfort and sturdiness. Unfortunately they’re not allowed up the school though.

I buy them all over the place - supermarkets or high street. DD2 is particularly tough on shoes as she's got a slightly out of kilter gait which means that stitching etc gets pulled a bit more.

Best pairs we've had have been from Sainsbury's to be fair - this year they've got Clarks just because we were up near their outlet store when doing the last bit of school shopping, but I wouldn't go to Clarks specifically as I don't think the quality's what it used to be.

I stopped buying Clarks when I realised I could buy plain black leather trainers, such as Adidas etc for about £25 and they last all year.

Another fan of M&S here. Good middle road in terms of price and quality.

We did go to Clarks this year for start of secondary but as usual they didn't have much in the right size.

I haven't tried next for school shoes but their other shoes are pretty decent, similar to Marks.

Tu is fine for a mid-year replacement
George and F+F rubbish

I find H&M kids shoes pretty good quality, Ds had a pair last year for pre school and they lasted around 6-7 months before he outgrew them!

My experience of Clarks is they do try and sell you the smallest size possible I guess so you come back and buy more quicker. Clarks are only really good if your child has wider or narrower feet than the norm. My DC has pretty standard feet width wise so Ive been buying supermarket shoes for a long time with no problems

I’ve always bought marks and Spencer’s school schools, at least £10 cheaper than Clark’s and last the year.

In all fairness this makes sense to me parents of twins didn't choose to have two DC at once

I think it depends on their feet. I used to take my two and if they fitted DD first (narrow feet particularly at the heel and a nightmare to fit) they would then give a sigh of relief and I'd tell them DS was different but just as awkward (his feet were really broad) They were always glad to see the back of us and no way would supermarket shoes fit them. If they had nice average shaped feet I'd have gone to somewhere like Sainsbury's.

Bought Clarks as usual for my yr 6 DS at the start of the last school year and they had holes in them by half term. Decided to try M&S and that pair lasted right through from October and only getting a new pair now as outgrown. M&S all the way for me now, really sturdy yet comfy shoes.

I totally agree!! I stopped buying Clarks when they measured ds's feet as 3 different sizes in 48 hrs, and then refused to sell DD the shoes she'd chosen because they were for boys.

Unfortunately I have to buy them for me because they do a few styles in a women's 9.

I get mine Nike trainers. 270s and Huarache this year. Cost around £140 each.

I think properly fitted shoes are worth the investment. Your DCs will have to walk on those feet for many more decades so it is worth protecting their health. DM has constant trouble with her feed and the the lead onto other quite bad issues due to poorly fitting shoes in childhood.

The science is pointing more and more towards "barefoot" style shoes (wide, flat, flexible) being far better for feet that structured shoes.

It maybe depends on individual circumstances/shoe models.

For me £50 for a key piece of uniform that lasted a full year is worth it, when I had to pay £35 for a branded hoodie that she wears two hours a week and will probably get lost by half-term. The whole uniform racket needs to stop.

Clarks shoes fall apart just as quickly as all the other brands.

Last September we bought mid teen DS two identical pairs of Italian made black leather shoes from a pop up shoe shop as they were cheap (£35) but looked pretty good quality. I thought they’d hopefully last till Spring as he usually wears the front edge of shoes away fairly quickly.

They’re bloody brilliant!!

He’s worn them almost every day (as he doesn’t like trainers), and they still look almost new. The soles are still perfect. Luckily, I think his feet have stopped growing as they were a 10.5 and they still fit.

I think the school shoe thing's a bit of a racket. Playing on parental guilt. Clarks are now poorly made and no better than supermarket brands in my experience. And children's feet grow so quickly that even a perfectly measured shoe isn't going to stay that way for long. Plus leather stretches anyway, so...

Yes, you have to be a member of the twins trust. I don’t think they should give discounts just because kids are siblings – that doesn’t make much sense. They already do blue light card etc.