Since when?

[McSteamyorMcdreamy]

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?!

My daughters' old strict academy did allow patent but wouldn't have allowed those heels, they definitely didn't allow trainers, were strict over the colour of hair bobbles but could be a choice of black or the school colour.

I kind of see what you mean about smart (not that I agree children should dress smartly for school), but if they are making them wear eg blazers and ties, but allowing trainers (sensible). I would go the other way and have relaxed uniform and trainers etc. Swap them for some flat patent kickers.

It's great schools are insisting shoes should be flat. Foot health is so bloody important and 5+ hours a day in heels even that small is very damaging. Why does looking smart trump long term health?

It's a shame the actual other options are just as bad. Those loafers just up thread will cause bunions eventually.

I fondly remember saving my pocket money and going with a friend to buy a pair of knock off/own brand platform shoes from a local cheap shoe shop back in the 90s.

My Daughter wouldn’t be allowed those either. No high heels allowed, just flat, plain leather school shoes.

OP surely the school hasn’t said that? They have banned heels and you have made up that this must be the reason. I do agree trainers should be banned too but that’s a different issue

Those aren’t advertised as a school shoe! Unless I am looking at the wrong link, it says adult loafer? Anyway, massive heel so you’ve definitely done the right thing getting a pair of AF1 instead.

Omg this is the mum bringing back her own 90s fashion and inflicting it on the daughter. They weren’t appropriate first time they aren’t now. They are awful and no smarter than a trainer. We don’t have trainers at our school. Loafers yes but it is a flat heel.

Why on earth would you put a tween in heels? Absolute madness.

If policy says no heels, why on earth did you buy heels?!

My DD school policy regarding shoes has changed this year…. Shes gone with patent startrite angry angels, but i bet I similarly will be buying AF1s before the end of September despite them being declared UGLY during the summer hols……

I wore similar when at school, will she get any wear of them or on to vinted?

I'd be VERY surprised if you get away with Air Force Ones. They are banned at my child's secondary. It has to be a flat, sensible shoe (not a trainer).

Thank you all for your (brutally) honest feedback!

Do love AIBU sometimes. God forbid someone posts and actually agrees with the vast majority (in terms of a acceptability).

Night all!

Get actual proper school shoes.
Your child will be in these atleast 6 hours a day 5 days a week.

That’s a platform heel, it’s not a loafer. But you know already and are just being purposefully obtuse. It’s not a shoe that’ll get wafted through at school

Certainly wouldn't be allowed at my school. Sorry.

It's tough. I definitely wore similar as a teenager but schools are MUCH stricter on heels now in my experience.

It’s not about what you think. There is a policy that says “no heels” yet you bought shoes with heels. And even if there was no policy, anyone who thinks such shoes are suitable to walking around school all day, up and down stairs, spending time on her feet in science or craft lessons is crazy. What’s wrong with you, OP? They don’t even look “smart”. They look like the shoes that very young children draw when they draw people.

They are awful
How did you think they would pass? Take them back tomorrow and swap for loafers

Does the school say that trainers are "smarter" than high heeled loafers?

Do you honestly not understand that footwear is chosen or disallowed for more than just how they look.

You seem obsessed with looking "smart" which tbh is subjective, and completely missing the point that trainers are practical and leave little room for ambiguity.

Trainers are a 100% more appropriate than those high heels for an 11yr old. Ffs

£70 deffo not £120
Stop arguing - you can't be strong and wrong

I suggest that there are some school leadership teams in serious need of detention in a secure hospital.

No, that's not OTT at all John.

Perfectly normal suggestion 😳🤣

I wore very similar to school as a Yr 9/10 child but that was the 90s!

I know you're signing off this topic OP but I think you're wrongly assuming that the school thinks trainers look smarter.

I would guess it's to do with allowing comfort level for children who are walking to/from school and for everyone generally just in the shoes all day.

Better for posture and development.

Also safety as others have said, re heel height.

My dds school has similar policy, black Nike on most people. In my day I think started first year in 3inch platform type!! Yes, 90's lol. When I think of it. And I did twist my ankle badly one morning!!

My DBil had his own children’s shoe shop for 30+ years and says that trainers (good ones) are best for feet. Ditto a podiatrist I saw a few years ago, he said ASICS. So, regardless of being smart, they are better for feet according to the “experts” I have come across

I’m sure someone else will have pointed it out (not west) but no 11yr old should be wearing heels, fashionable or not.
Kids feet are still growing, their bones will become deformed if specific enduring pressure is put on them. Heels put pressure on the metatarsal arch, it can even reverse. Please anyone considering ‘fashionable’ heels for a child, put the life long health of their feet first. Thank goodness schools would ban these.