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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Clarks shoes for high school?

97 replies

MsLydia · 09/08/2012 09:29

Would you buy your year 7 ds Clarks shoes for school? I usually always get school shoes from there but Im thinking they might be a no no for high school?

OP posts:

amck5700 · 09/08/2012 11:38

yeah - we went through the whole no velcro discussion but No1 son was insistent and his friends sister (3 years older) said they would be fine. and No2 son is in primary and nobody cares there :)

GrimmaTheNome · 09/08/2012 11:39

My DDs the same as many others here - going into yr9, Clarkes Bootlegs. She can tell hers apart from everyone else because they're the smaller!

MrsRobertDuvallHasRosacea · 09/08/2012 11:43

Dd is going into year 11 and has always had Clarks....her choice.
She walks to and from school, and wanted comfort rather than flappy ballet pumps.
she is size 8 and last year had the ladies lace up brogues..we had 2 pairs lasy year and we have just ordered a replacement pair for year 11. Stylish and practical.

She wears Top Shop/ Jack Wills clothes all the time...Vans, birkies, havianas so isn't some Enid Blyton geeky throwback.

Ds is 13 and has Clarks laceups. Last him all year despite all the football.

NoComet · 09/08/2012 11:44

I fear I have all this to come.

DD1 has had three pairs of exactly the same casual black velcro strapped Clarks ladies shoes (that just slip under the no pumps, no trainers radar) form Y7-Y10.

She is firmly of the fuck fashion, funk the kids who tease me anyway, I will be comfortable brigade.

DD2 is the complete opposite and I haven't yet dared go Y7 she shopping.

She's been very vocal about skirt length, rules or no rules already.

GrimmaTheNome · 09/08/2012 11:55

We've not actually got DDs shoes for next year yet, but I'm sure she won't want to go anywhere other than Clarkes, and I'd take a small bet she'll choose these.

Joshpoodlehamster · 09/08/2012 12:24

Skrumie

Inserts aren't fun. One of mine has them too and also doubles that with very narrow tiny feet . Last year she ended up with black leather pixie boots (size 35) from Verbaudet meant for kids under 12 and she's 15!! We had to size up to get the inserts in...

But they were fab and later in the season in their sale we bought a second pair for this year as poor child couldn't stand the humiliation of doing the search again.

We did huge online search - taking advantage of those offering free delivery - before we found something suitable. I had to look at makes that you wouldn't normally consider for youngsters - Ecco.

Juggling inserts and the need for fashion is not easy!

Sunnydelight · 09/08/2012 12:28

DS1 work Clark's shoes until the age of 18 when he left school as there is no option other than "proper school shoes" at our school. Absolutely no problem because everyone else did the same.

Kaluki · 09/08/2012 12:32

Defintely a no-no!

Every pair of shoes I have bought from Clarks have fallen apart.
Overpriced crap imo.
I bought mine from BHS - £55 for both dss!!!

BackforGood · 09/08/2012 12:34

Yes - I have a ds going into Yr12 (where they won't have to wear uniform, so not from now on, but yes up to Yr11) and I have a dd going into Yr9. She has a long walk each way and goes to a school with a uniform so needs sensible shoes which she is happy with as they are comfortable, and the same sorts of thing as all her peers wear.

BackforGood · 09/08/2012 12:35

Well, yes, all might not have been from Clarks, but I assume you are talking about buying "proper" school shoes as opposed to fashion items ?

amck5700 · 09/08/2012 12:55

Kaluki - then you should have taken them back. I have only ever had one issue with Clarks robustness and that was a pair of gym shoes where the velcro went all fluffy and wouldn't fasten after a couple of months, they happily replaced them and the others lasted the rest of the school year. I don't always buy clarks, i have had some brilliant buys from Next and some of the european makes when the kids were younger, but i can honestly say i have never had a pair of shoes fall apart........yet!!

And it terms of cost, they are cheaper than some of the fashion brands though some of them are really good quality too.

Kaluki · 09/08/2012 17:39

I did twice - both pairs fell apart.
Ds was happy because both times he kept TW silly little toy that was hidden in the sole

amck5700 · 09/08/2012 17:59

lol - I don't think we ever had any of those ones.

KitKatGirl1 · 09/08/2012 21:49

How can you not wear 'proper' school shoes for school? Surely trainers and Vans are not allowed for school...they would look hideous on the end of proper trousers or skirts? Girls with flat pumps I can imagine getting away with in some schools, though definitely not allowed at ours.

Can't say I've ever seen a school child not wearing smart shoes for school...(even dh's school where they have sweatshirts - yuk - they still have to have proper shoes)

(Although agree with Kaluki, we usually buy European makes or Start-rite etc but sometimes Clarks have been ok)

invicta · 10/08/2012 11:50

I'd never had a problem ith Clarks shoes despite numerous playtime games of football. I actually think thyme workout cheaper than buying fashion shoes which you have to replace during the year as they have fallen apart.

HandMadeTail · 10/08/2012 11:53

I suppose it depends on the school.

DD1 (13) wears Clarks, as do all her friends.

DD2 (11) will also wear Clarks (or equivalent).

Addie18 · 10/08/2012 15:58

TKMAxx is very good for school shoes, maybe have a look there

tiggytape · 10/08/2012 17:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gazzalw · 10/08/2012 20:45

DW buys both DCs Clarks shoes for the new school year. Given that we are a walking everywhere type of family, they prove to be extremely good value for money as they last the whole school year....

DS is going to secondary school and wouldn't dream of buying him anything other than Clarks until his feet have stopped growing - which, given that he's only a size 2, isn't going to be anytime soon!

gazzalw · 10/08/2012 20:45

DW buys both DCs Clarks shoes for the new school year. Given that we are a walking everywhere type of family, they prove to be extremely good value for money as they last the whole school year....

DS is going to secondary school and wouldn't dream of buying him anything other than Clarks until his feet have stopped growing - which, given that he's only a size 2, isn't going to be anytime soon!

Bubbless · 10/08/2012 20:59

please dont :(
my mum and dad insisted on buying me clarks
i was bullied horrifically however i was also ginger..

the style of clarks is fine
just not the brand!

tiggytape · 11/08/2012 09:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumstoast · 11/08/2012 11:42

DD going into year 12 has had and is still having clarks shoes from the womans section, its just finding ones they like and there are a variety which are sterdier than cheaper one but look very similar.

gazzalw · 11/08/2012 14:21

At this stage with DS still growing (he's still little for his age and his feet are nowhere near full-sized), we would be doing him a great disservice to put in not properly fitted shoes. He's going to grammar school not some fashion repository! Personally I would expect children to have better things to be thinking about than the shoes they are wearing.

think the school would have an apoplexy attack if the boys started showing up in fashionably branded schoolwear.

boys shoes are essentially boys shoes - I just don't get this huge fuss!

thebestisyettocome · 11/08/2012 14:32

I'm thinking of getting ds1 some dr martens this year. He's aged 10 and size 7 feet

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