School shoes!

[TimeWastingButFun]

What are people doing about school shoes? I bought uniform yesterday (new school) but I really don't know what to do about shoes. I usually book a fitting at the end of July (which I've done) but this time I'm not sure if they will actually be going back in September or not! What are you doing? Buying them or risking them not being available nearer the time? It doesn't help that my son is now size 9 men's, wide fit and with a high instep so there aren't usually many to choose from!

I've brought dd (going into year 1) a cheap pair £12 from Asda. I work in primary schools and we're honestly expecting to be closed within 3 weeks of opening again until new year so figured I wouldn't bother spending the money yet and will get her a pair of Clark's when things back to normal

Gosh @lazylockdowner - can you expand on your view about term only lasting 3 weeks? Do you expect a surge from schools being open or a seasonal surge?

I'm leaving it, and as long as ds fits in his shoes, he can go back in them. BTW, mine wears a 9, has wide feet and high insteps and now wears Dr Martens service shoes as they are really tough, fit well, and much cheaper than normal Dr Martens

Nothing to do with the pandemic, but I'd never get new school shoes in July, for fear of the growth spurt.

I know it gets busy in the school shoe shops in the week before term starts, but there is a good reason why most of us do it then

I got dd (age 13) to try on her uniform and everything fitted but her skirts are getting a bit snug, so i bought 2 in the next size up. (They usually last at least 2 years at this age so should get wear out of them). Her blazer has had it but she is going to wear dd1's old one. Luckily her shoes still fit her.
Dd1 is going into sixth form, so no uniform.

I usually get them right at the end of the summer holidays in case they grow! Our school have been in trainers since lockdown (primary) so I don't want to buy school shoes for next term just in case that continues.

I discovered that the online cadet uniform suppliers also stock a range of black lace up shoes as parade shoes - and price wise they compare very favourably with comparable alternatives. Bought my son a pair when he reached size 11 (thank goodness he stopped there!) - they came up a little big and suit his wide / high instep feet. They also have women's fittings to a good size.

I too never bought school shoes in July while my children's feet were growing! Their feet did stop before they finished growing height wise, which is useful to remember.

Michaelahpurple
I work in two different primary school and both are fully prepared and expecting another closure. With everything opening back up and school holidays I fully expect things to get very bad again very quickly