M&S Patent shoes?

[Bigoldmachine]

First kid going into reception this year so naturally I am questioning myself over uniform purchases….

Has anyone had M&S patent school shoes, do they wear ok?

They don’t do the ones I like in plain leather.

I’m after:

• T bars that cover most of the foot to avoid cold / wet feet
• rip tape fastening
• sturdy
• relatively cheap (less than £40)

A friend warned me off patent saying they scuff, but I’ve seen lots of threads here saying they wear better?

Any advice wise mumsnetters?

PS was going to buy in early august, but with their 20% off sale now on and a dd whose feet grow astonishingly slowly I am thinking I may buy earlier

Are you allowed patent shoes? Quite a lot of schools say no to them.
They won't wear as well as non patent

I’ve had Clark’s patent in the past. Some scuffed and some didn’t.

In my experience leather looks better longer as you can polish out the scuffs.

I’d avoid patent.

I’d you can stretch your budget a bit, these shoes are great and have just seen DD through Reception.

Very comfy and sturdy but still look nice.

They could easily be passed down or sold they’ve worn so well.

www.bobux.co.uk/delight-black-628027?slv_rt=v1%7E1fa559r0m%7E82f94e66-5e4e-4266-b84e-7e72ec8c12c0%7E4561c75e-6889-4cfa-baff-aeaf16cd1b02%7E-10apq6d

You want shoes with a big rubber edge to them, especially with patent. Mine always get patent with a think rubber sole which comes up a wee bit and takes the scuffs.

Dd had patent shoes/boots every single year in primary school and they always lasted all year with no scuffs. I think it just depends on how hard your child is on shoes.

My DD has always had patent shoes. Her feet grow slowly and shoes generally last a whole school year, and they have always lasted very well. I think it depends on the child and what they are playing etc.

We’ve always bought patent as l feel it wears much better.
Can’t comment on m&s though I’m afraid!

little-lilys.co.uk/products/startrite-lizzy-black-patent-school-shoes

Like this. I also think for £40 you could get properly fitted startrite etc.

I used to always buy Clark's patent shoes when my DD was little as they did looked new for much longer. Clark's fit really well, which is what is the most important at that age.

I always preferred patent as I found them more hard-wearing (I don’t polish shoes 😄). I bought M&S patent school shoes quite a few times, no complaints.

We have the Etch Craft Kid in black patent and really like them. I have never polished them or cleaned them and they look good after ~6 months when we need to size up.

With COVID we have invested in the gauge in order to size at home and buy the next size of the same shoe when needed.

I think the patent overall looks neater, and the coating protects the leather underneath.

My kids don't look the neatest though (e.g I don't iron the uniform) but think the shoes are great.

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Etch-Craft-Kid

Alway been happy with M&S patent shoes, the ones with the tie bumper too. They last long enough to be passed on to a classmate. Dd is now a size 2 (she's 7),and suddenly most of what M&S offer in girls school shoes have a fucking heal. Sort it out Markses.

My 6 year old has had patent shoes in Year R and Year 1 and they haven't scuffed at all. One pair was from Startrite, the other from Clarks. Both have lasted all year.

Thank you all this is great! I knew you’d be a font of knowledge.

My DD is not very hard on shoes, will only be wearing them 3 days a week (1 day forest school = wellies and 1 day PE kit = trainers).

In fact I’m trying to get her to care LESS about dirty / scuffed shoes, I don’t know where she’s got it from because I’ve never even mentioned not getting shoes dirty or anything, but I would actually like her to be less careful

It’s great she’ll be doing Forest School! My DD loved it.

I'd say real patent leather wears as well as ordinary leather if not better.

You can buy patent 'paints to repair scuffs on patent shoes if necessary.

I've had school shoes from Asda, Sainsbury, Clarks and M&S. They've all lasted until outgrown. Unfortunately that has been as little as one term...fortunately that was the Asda pair as most of that was lockdown2...

DD2 is incredibly hard on her shoes to the point straps frequently end up ripped off (it's to do with her gait and her coordination). Best school shoes we've had in recent years in terms of indestructibility have been patent leather ones from Sainsburys.

Her current ones are T bar toe zone ones which unfortunately are out of stock at the moment but there are other ones on there in similar styles, which also have decent grippy soles as well.

I only buy patent, they still look new at the end of the school year!
Proper patent from Clarks that is.

Not tried M&S ones though!

Mine had M&S patent and lasted all year

I’ve tried marks and start rite leather patent shoes, both pairs still looked good at the end of the year. Marks do narrow fit on some shoes now which was great for my dd as we found their standard fit was quite wide.

Patent wears far better than normal leather, I’m sad DD won’t be able to have patent at secondary. Normal leather looks scruffy almost immediately.

My DD (6) has patent t-bars from M&S and I’ve been very pleasantly surprised how well they’ve held up. No scuffs and she’s a tomboy