Practical girls school shoes

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My DD will be starting primary school in September and will need to wear black shoes. I need to double check the policy but I'm fairly certain completely black plain trainers are also acceptable. Having once vaguely browsed the girls section at Clarks I wasn't thrilled by the options compared to the boys, seemed far less practical/warm/weather-proof! It rains loads here and over the winter she usually lives in boots, but I don't think boots are allowed (why?!). My DH wants to buy from the boys section but I don't think that's a good idea as she will probably clock on to that and not like it, and even if she doesnt I'm wary of her shoes sticking out too much and people making comments and upsetting her. So anyway any good practical suggestions that also won't stick out?

We used clarks on and off with an independent shop in-between (often recontact or petasil) . Both were good for us.

Mine didn't want boy-trainers (they used to sit comparing shoes in September in infants and loved Matching with another girl with a butterfly/bow/whatever on their shoes.)

Interestingly I'd initially planned to avoid patent as it used to peel when I was a kid but now its genuinely the more hard wearing. Both clarks and the indeoendent mentioned this. We had a non patent version of a clarks shoe midyear once and it really did scuff far more. So for both girls we 90% had patent through primary as it is much more hard-wearing, and in later years would insist on the patent version even if it meant ordering in.

Secondary is brogues /doc marten shoes so completely different!

Kickers do an ankle boot called kick hi. They do regular leather and a patent version and they’re so sturdy. My kids had them for school shoes every year and even the teenagers I have still at school wear them

The Bobux school range is lovely but pricey

My daughter is Y2 and we have always worn 'boys shoes' or closed toe/trainer type. They work well - the girls options that did not fully cover the foot would mean wet socks/feet!

Lots of options out there now -

I think that's why it's important to contact the school-

The kickers kick hi ankle boots wouldn't be allowed in the primary or secondary my kids go to! But my niece's school were fine with ankle boots.

If desperate you can always send a picture of the shoe to the school office to check they're okay!

Do you know Kickers fit width wise? I've found the Kick Hi patent with stars on the side and my DD would LOVE them, but she has very narrow feet, wondering if they will be any good?

I’m not too sure for the narrower foot. My kids are all on the slightly wider side.

Black AF1, waterproof, unisex, hardwearing

Hush Puppies do a t bar style which cover a lot of the foot and also have a chunky sole. They also barely scuffed. Really impressed. Start Rite also do velcro closure ones for girls (I know there is no reason girls can't wear the boys ones but I find so many boys school shoes very ugly!). Ricosta are good too.

Avoid Clarks like the plague! DD destroyed hers within 2 days this year - she obviously plays hard! Previously, she’d had Geox ones, which lasted well, and now Startrite, which I don’t think are as good (but far better than Clarks).

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Dd (very fussy with lots of sensory issues) has worn these all through primary and now on to secondary:

www.schoolshoes.co.uk/geox-casey-girls-school-shoes-patent-black-p24379

They cover most of the foot and are super comfy she says. The patent ones have withstood a school year of football at every playtime as well.

There's a boot type version and an ankle length one. Interestingly my DDs school doesn't allow boots but they do allow the taller kickers.

My DD (10) has been wearing shoes from the boys' section since she was 7.

She's started a bit of a trend among her friends now - the ones who actually like to run around at break time and don't like getting their feet wet when it rains.

My DD is in reception this year, and has these, although last year they didn't have the sparkly glitter.

They have velcro so are easier for her to get dressed after PE, and are water tight for playing outside in poor weather. This sort of girls' shoe, I've found, are often listed under trainers rather than shoes, on the supermarket websites.

DD (11, Y6) has always worn "boys" shoes. You can't play football in "girls" shoes, however many diamanté hearts they have on them. She also wears shorts most of the year round. Never been a problem.

This is a particular bugbear of mine. I go to an independent children's shoe shop and find Ricosta and Geox are quite good. Ricosta is also good for a narrow fit.

These are the ones i've just bought DD7 as her old shoes got a whole in the sole. Glad to here they're lasting well for your Daughter!

We have had these Ricosta shoes for several years now - they are smart, practical and fairly lightweight: https://ricosta.co.uk/girls-c10/school-c23/ricosta-grace-black-patent-leather-middle-width-girls-riptape-school-shoes-p27437/s254219?cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImtixxIOdwIVhdLtCh3VpQquEAQYAiABEgLessDBwE

I think Geox, Kickers and Lelli Kelly have similar styles too.

Agreed, but too trainery for many schools though.

On the other hand if your child likes the t bars and the hearts and flowers....I'd let them get them. Don't be the parent that makes your child different on your principles if they're starting reception and don't want to be different.

Kids honestly manage to run around like loons and play football in them just fine!

It's really not great for kids feet to always be in trainers. Esp little growing ones.

I put my very girlie DD in boys school shoes. I explained that her feet won't get wet, she can play better at break time and in the winter her feet won't get cold. I also explained to her how unfair it is they she had to wear boys shoes. I'll do doing the same this year for my DD going in to reception as well my current reception DD.

Encouraging girls to actually run around and be active at break times is so important. Really great to see so many parents have done as we have and always put DD in practical shoes. Those ballet type shoes encourage so many harmful stereotypes.

Yes the ballet shoes have no support. But most "girls" shoes for infants have a t bar so plenty support to run around in without resorting to "boys shoes" of they're conscious of that.