School shoes

[jugglesandspins]

Best school shoes for DD going into Y2. We usually buy Start Rite but last couple of pairs haven’t really held up. Geox fell to bits after 1 day! Any recommendations….

That's terrible about Geox - I hope you complained!
Clarke's?

My dd's last 2 have been ricosta. Very supple and barefoot feel and really hardwearing. They are now our go to

We always buy Clark's and Bebe have a problem

Bought some Ricosta but they were too narrow.

You're right they are quite narrow. It's so funny because when my dd was a toddler she couldn't wear clarkes/startrite at all. Whenever I took her they measured her different and ridiculously wide and the staff tried to persuade us to spend £50 on shoes 2 sizes too big. The problem wasn't that her foot is wide it was that she has a really deep instep. Her first few pairs of shoes were either Nikes or froddo boots because they were all that would fit. As she's got older I think she still has quite a deep instep but her foot has become more narrow.

I didn’t buy them direct, but after arguing with the shop I’d bo

*ught them at they eventually agreed a refund

we also had a terrible geox experience but with boys shoes.

for my DD she has worn M&S chunky patent shoes the last three years and they have been great. She has slow growing feet and twice they lasted the full year intact. Last year we had to glue the sole for the last month.

like these

https://www.marksandspencer.com/kids-leather-t-bar-school-shoes-8-small-1-large-/p/clp60163721?prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip40g2r1c1

and

https://www.marksandspencer.com/kids-chunky-loafer-leather-school-shoes-13-small-7-large-/p/clp60676664?prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip40g2r10c2

We use bgreater shoes, they are barefeet shoes so nice and comfy for wearing all day at school and have held up really well.

Thank you. The reviews are fantastic. I’ve just ordered the Marie school shoe to try.

DD2 has a very uneven gait (she's dyspraxic) so she is really really hard on schools. Best we found in the end were from Sainsburys of all places, bought in an emergency post-lockdowns when they went back to school and they'd all outgrown their stuff!

We have tried bgreater twice and neither pair lasted a half term. I sent the first pair back and they sent us a replacement which was great of them, but same thing happened with the second pair.

We found geox girls shoes wore quite well and M and S have been good too.

How strict is the school? Ours just say must be black leather but trainer style are fine so I just buy black leather Nikes and they last very well and are playground proof- DS plays footie in them every lunchtime.

Do they have to be proper school shoes? My DD just wears black trainers, much better!

For actual shoes next are quite good especially considering the price

We've had really good experiences with Geox. DD has had them for the last 4 years and each pair has done the whole school year, the patent has worn but the shoe sole has been good. Have you tried Lelli Kelly? They are definitely more substantial than the name suggests, worth a look.

Y2 was when we gave up and just got them plain black trainers (Sketchers for the eldest, Nikes for the middle one, youngest doesn't have a preference yet!)

Just wondered how you got on with them a year later? Would you recommend? Also of your children switched to barefoot shoes ok or did you gradually build up time in them?

I always buy from Clarks Outlet shop - as do narrow and wider widths. Never had a problem and (as my old ma would have said) they last a long time and always have plenty of wear left in them!. The Mary-Jane styles are very comfortable.
I buy in advance - in half sizes - when I see them on offer (Black Friday etc). I usually only pay £15-25 a pair (have paid as little as £10). I basically have every half size for both DCs for the next 3 years!