School shoes

[Bonsoir]

Last week I was in England with DD and, as is our custom, we went to buy shoes for her at Russell & Bromley - the same branch that my mother took me and my sister too when we were little.

Only that same morning had I been reading the newspaper headlines berating the lack of exercise taken by British schoolchildren. Yet in R&B the appalling footwear that goes by the name of school shoes shouted out a large part of the problem. Even the shop assistant volunteered, when I explained that DD did not require black leather footwear, that DD would be able to run so much better in the leather trainers we were buying her.

[Bonsoir]

Frisky - those single strap ( and often thinsoled) shoes must be the ones I saw all those girls trying on in R&B last week.

[Yamyoid]

I've never seen a problem with soles in the start rite and clarkes shoes worn by ds but I'm finding girls' shoes ridiculous. I've just started looking for proper shoes and they're all impractical and mainly pink and flowery.
Her first shoes were fine, like pumps with 2 Velcro straps but they only have them as cruisers .
I'm dreading when she goes to school and I have to spend £35 on rubbish shoes every 6 months.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Dds school being a vocational dance school insist on supportive black leather shoes for the children but smart, not a trainer style.

Ballet style flats are banned

Unfortunately many schools have bowed to fashion and allow the flimsy style if shoe the OP describes. It is kids fashion & peer pressure that makes it do difficult to get proper shoes, not schools.

Up until a few years ago start rite sold loads in a suitable style. Now they like the other brands are moving over to the ballet flats.

[Bonsoir]

I think there needs to be some kind of awareness raising campaign to get DCs, schools and shoe manufacturers aligned on attractive and supportive footwear.

[Mominatrix]

Umm, i don't now about girl's school shoes, but the ones for boys are very supportive and many look like trainers. Geox and Rhino (by Start Rite) are the two we tend to buy. Guess you should have looked in more shops - John Lewis has a better selection of school shoes.

[Talkinpeace]

1. Teenage Girls do not run around in the playground. Therefore they do not need stout school shoes.
   
2. Teenage boys change into trainers for lunchtime football
   
3. Most state schools utterly ban trainers as school shoes for long standing reasons due to bullying and theft
   
4. Most UK private schools ban trainers as school shoes because they are scruffy
   
   I have always bought my kids shoes from French's in Bedford Place in Southampton - they sell lots and lots of brands and are well worth the queues - and now that the kids are older I get to use the adults department and walk past the long queue that starts this week!

[GrimmaTheNome]

My DD has always managed to run in her Clarkes school shoes - whether they be Velcro-strapped or more recently the lace-up brogue style which are what most of the girls at her secondary school seem to wear. None have been 'flimsy'. Now she's 14 I don't suppose she does much running around in break but does have to be able to dash for the bus!

ITA that the 'ballet flat' styles are mostly inappropriate but there's plenty of other options.

[Bonsoir]

Should add: this thread was about primary school DC - I don't know anything much about secondary!

[Talkinpeace]

Many schools have such small playgrounds and short breaks that running around is not really an option.
BUT
Good school shoes are worth the expense at Primary age
and I'll admit Bonsoir that I vetoed pump type shoes for DD till year 6

[Technoprisoners]

Talkinpeace - French's was where I was always taken as a child! Sadly have moved far away and nothing of the kind where we live. Such a shame.

[Talkinpeace]

Techno
as far as I can gather from the queue chatter, they have a 70 mile catchment radius!

[Technoprisoners]

'Tis a bloody good shop. How I miss it.

[Technoprisoners]

(I miss Scentsations opposite, also, the perfume equivalent of the bespoke shoe.)

[Bonsoir]

Walking (or running) to school is much easier in trainers.

< voice of experience>

[BackforGood]

Not if you have proper school shoes though Bonsoir - as the vast majority of British school children do.

[Meglet]

bonsoir I'm with you on this one. The 'choice' in girls school shoes is dire, I e-mailed clarks last week to have a moan about it, and will be replying to their piss poor excuse for such a limited range for girls. All flimsy 'mary jane' style shoes, whereas the boys can have practical trainer style shoes (just in black).

The best I've come up with for 4yo DD is a more traditional T-bar Start Rite pair for DD. I'm still pissed off that retailers want to put girls in party style shoes for school but the boys get 'trainers'.

[Meglet]

talkinpeace I was going to head to the john lewis shoe dept in Soton but the web site didn't get my hopes up. I'll check out French's now .

[Talkinpeace]

Meglet
French's is MUCH better than John Lewis (or Tyrrell and Green as was many moons ago)
The queue can be horrible but the staff are so good its worth it.
I take mine and DHs shoes there to be repaired as well.

Techno
I remember Scentsations - I was more a fan of Cloud Wines personally

[Snog]

hush puppies are awesome school shoes.
very long lasting too

[Talkinpeace]

Long lasting not an issue for DS : he grows nearly a shoe size a term at the moment!

[teacherandguideleader]

There are two schools of thought for children's shoes. Some believe very supportive shoes prevent foot problems, others believe that supportive shoes don't allow the foot muscles to develop properly as they become lazy as the shoe does all the work.

I am with the second school of thought - I used to wear orthotics for my flat feet. My flat feet weren't caused by poor fitting shoes but by a medical condition. My orthotics stopped the pain but didn't correct my feet. I then started trampolining - the muscles in my feet developed and my feet are no longer flat, and I have no pain.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Interesting teacher

Dd has been told she may be able to avoid orthotics because she does ballet but she needs supportive shoes the rest if the time especially as she turns her foot.

[Paddlinglikehell]

I remember French's. Luckily, where we live now has several independent shoe shops, although one in Southport has just closed :(

Russell and Bromley wouldn't be my first choice for school shoes, far too fashion biased now, the good old days of quality there have long gone and are now just another 'brand', usually for those who want to make a monetary statement!

There are however lots of sturdy, well made shoes for girls, but it is a pain trying to convince a 9 year old that thin ballet type, low fronted shoes are not OK for school. Start Rites usually have something supportive and fit with the schools policy of no pumps, no slipons and no trainers.

Bonsoir, a lot of schools will not allow trainers and stipulate the type of shoes. Our school even send a leaflet with examples of what is acceptable. I wouldn't want dd in trainers all day, too sweaty, heavy and bulky.