Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Since when?

367 replies

McSteamyorMcdreamy · 30/08/2025 21:40

Posting here for traffic.

My DD starts year 7 next week. Local secondary. Nothing fancy.

She and we are respectful of uniform policy and have purchased everything we need to. She looks bloody smart and we (and she) can't wait for her to start.

As 11 year old girls will do, they have tried their whole set up in front of their friends and all of them said the same thing:

"You will get sent home with those shoes"

They throw detentions out for the most minor of uniform infractions and DD is now having a massive anxiety spiral that she's going to get a detention or worse sent home 1st day because of her shoes.

I spoke to a friend who works in the school office and showed her a picture and her response was "oooh, I'm not sure. Air Force 1s are the best way to go"

Since when have trainers been a smarter, more acceptable form of shoe than a patent loafer??!!!

For full disclosure she has chosen the Kickers Edie loafer as in the link

https://www.kickers.co.uk/adult-women-edie-loafer-patent-leather-black/14913640.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=UK+-+Kickers+-+Search+-+Brand+-+Core+-+Broad&utm_term=kickers&utm_content=brand+-+Kickers&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20162340688&gbraid=0AAAAADiNwZXHWpJ1LFmAfTE2drVjkEy8k&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwsrFBhD6ARIsAPnUFD1w_j6Ufhx1cfFv1a1fF0Ageht-fZYRGu_xo9ofOilAOdjE7KgGjEgaAoLrEALw_wcb

This school stipulates that hair past chin lemgth needs to be in a ponytail with a hair band that is the closest colour to the individuals hair colour, yet believes that a trainer is smarter/more acceptable than the loafer.

AIBU here?! I know trainers are more acceptable these days but are they really considered smarter considering how rigid they are on the smaller items?!

Kickers GB

Shop Adult Women Edie Loafer Patent Leather Black online with Kickers. Find this and more here.

https://www.kickers.co.uk/adult-women-edie-loafer-patent-leather-black/14913640.html?gad_campaignid=20162340688&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADiNwZXHWpJ1LFmAfTE2drVjkEy8k&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwsrFBhD6ARIsAPnUFD1w_j6Ufhx1cfFv1a1fF0Ageht-fZYRGu_xo9ofOilAOdjE7KgGjEgaAoLrEALw_wcb&gclsrc=aw.ds

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
MustDust · 30/08/2025 21:43

What does the uniform policy say? My DS's school wouldn't allow either of them.

Overthebow · 30/08/2025 21:43

Surely it’s the heel on those shoes that is the problem, not that they’re loafers? They’re not really suitable for school in year 7.

madnessitellyou · 30/08/2025 21:44

What does the uniform policy state?

They look too “high heeled” to me. The fact that someone in the office said they weren’t sure would have been enough for me not to buy them.

chipsticksmammy · 30/08/2025 21:45

They are heels and wouldn’t pass at school here either.

gamerchick · 30/08/2025 21:45

Those heels won't fly OP. She might be sent home.

Zippidydoodah · 30/08/2025 21:46

Too high but we all had those exact ones in the nineties!

TooManyNiblings · 30/08/2025 21:46

Agree, neither would pass at DD's school. Air force 1s are trainers and those are way too high heeled

WhereAreMyKids · 30/08/2025 21:48

Yup, it's the heel, Home You Go.

madnessitellyou · 30/08/2025 21:48

If in doubt, pair of actual school shoes.

The child protests or claims that everyone else wears xyz? Tough.

YetanotherNC25 · 30/08/2025 21:49

Yeah those are way too high for school. Flat loafers are what they’re all wearing at my DC’s school. Trainers of any colour will get them a detention.

Bingbangboo · 30/08/2025 21:50

I have no idea but thanks for the nostalgic trip back to 1994!

IggyAce · 30/08/2025 21:50

Flat loafers yes heeled no. Sorry but those could be seen as a health and safety risk. Trainers are a no at my DCs school.

DoubtfulCat · 30/08/2025 21:50

Those are high heeled shoes, the uniform policy will say the heel height that’s acceptable (as well as what type of shoe is ok).
She needs something flat, probably 2cm max, as will be walking a lot- my dc routinely walks over 10000 steps a day at school, and high heels aren’t suitable for that.

Best of luck with secondary school!

Spies · 30/08/2025 21:50

The heel on those shoes are ridiculous and I very much doubt they adhere to the uniform policy.

Rollingdown · 30/08/2025 21:50

It would’ve been funnier if you said plim souls

Doggymummar · 30/08/2025 21:51

I had those shoes. And just sold them on eBay. Not a shoe for an 11 year old. 6th form maybe.

mummysmagicmedicine · 30/08/2025 21:52

Lots of schools allow black air forces and similar for comfort but also as can be worn for pe and school which saves some families money. Those shoes are practically high heels I’m afraid and she is highly likely to be sent home and you truly don’t want to put her in such an awkward situation on her first day. Plus in year 7 they don’t all have individuality to express themselves yet and while this is something we all encourage within our children she may well feel more confident having shoes similar to all her friends and this can reduce risk of bullying. Black air forces or a normal pair of Clarks brogues or slip ons will be fine x

Purpleheatherrain · 30/08/2025 21:53

Heels on teens are really damaging. Glad schools are banning them.

LunchtimeNaps · 30/08/2025 21:53

My DD school would not accept these because:

branded shoe
heel too high
patent

Ours also do not accept trainers.

bumblefeline · 30/08/2025 21:54

I had a pair of those in the 90s loved them. They would not have been allowed at either of my kids schools.

AliTheMinx · 30/08/2025 21:54

I don't think these are acceptable (sorry!) - but also don't like the idea.of trainers either. What happened to normal.smart shoes?

Coldnightsapproachingwhereismyduvet · 30/08/2025 21:54

Dd's mate was put in isolation for having a red hair elastic not black...
Those shoes aren't suitable for school

Did you really think they were?

Sunshineismyfavourite · 30/08/2025 21:54

The Air Force 1s look much more suitable for school than the Kickers.

I think the Kickers are a bit fashion statement tbh - they are definitely not a standard patent loafer with the big heel and platform sole.

InfoSecInTheCity · 30/08/2025 21:55

They wouldn’t meet our school uniform policy either, they have a very definite high heel and flats are the requirement.