School shoes for new year 7.

[hoolahoolagirl]

My daughter is due to start secondary school in September - big step and lots of growing up I expect!

I have been recently thinking about school uniform and was a little stumped with the shoes. She is currently wearing Mary Jayne style clarks shoes which have been fine but we both agree are a bit young looking.

What type of shoes do girls wear at secondary school? She will have to do a lot of walking. Any help greatly appreciated

[waikikamookau]

year 7 to me was a chance to break free from Clarkes,

[PurpleGirly]

Check the policy - local school here asks that shoes cover the front of the foot so no Mary Janes etc allowed, also no Vans style as canvas/trainer style not allowed.

[NoComet]

Good alone knows why £3 falling apart ballet pumps are allowed, but vans or boots aren't? ???

DD2 has Clarks brogues, DD1 has Clarks ladies very soft , comfy, unfashionable Mary Janes and has had for 4 years. We tried on thousands of shoes at Easter and just ended up with the same again.

[lljkk]

I was told a lot of kids at DD's secondary wear wellies & change when they arrive (in bad conditions). Can't see DD doing that, though.

[mummytime]

You can go wrong with Kickers - they are not fashionable here and wouldn't be "suitable for school" either.

In deep snow DCs strict secondary normally lets them wear Mufti until the worst of the snow has melted (SE England though).

[lottieandmia]

My dd has the ballet pump with strap style (startrite). I think they look lovely on her - she'll be in year 7. I think Kickers are horrible but that's just me...

[lottieandmia]

Brogues are definitely in but the sales assistant in Russell and Bromley told me their own brand (which also cost a fortune) fall apart very quickly.

[Takver]

Does anyone know how well Startrite shoes last? We've not had good experiences with Clarks, and as I suspect dd's feet may not grow too much for a while (fingers crossed) I'd rather pay a bit more for something that would last. These I think she would like, for example.

[HeyCarrieAnn]

Start Rite have always been MUCH better quality than Clarks, imo. Ditto Ecco.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Dds feet grow very slowly. Sometimes only half a size per year. She's always had start rite and they've lasted well. Claris lasted less than one term.

[Clary]

Yes my DD also just finishing yr 7 had the lace up Clarks ones, like the start rite ones linked below.

Lots and lots of girls at the school I teach at wore them too which means they must be totally acceptable (anything uncool would not be tolerated in such numbers there )

[Bunbaker]

I have never had a pair of Clarks shoes fall apart. Some children on here must be exceptionally hard on shoes.

I now buy all of DD's school shoes from Kids at Clinks because they offer a much wider range and DD has narrow feet so she is difficult to buy for.

[HeyCarrieAnn]

I've never had them fall apart, either. Ds always grows out of shoes before they fall apart (and I'm talking a year plus not a few months). He doesn't play sport. But I've just found Clarks to be stiffer, less comfortable and generally less well made than Start Rite or Ecco. And the boys range much less formal, too, which is the main reason we don't shop there!

[Madmog]

My daughter was only size 12.5 when she started Year 7, so if I wanted something decent, it had to be Clarks. She has just been fitted for size 1 and accepted without any complaints the same style again. Looking around there are other girls with her style of shoe, so she wasn't completely out of play. Three of her friends started off with brogues, two of them now have pump styles and the other has reverted back to a strap across the foot.

[gerbilsarefun]

My dd has been wearing clarks ballet style pumps with the strap, as already mentioned. They have lasted all year, she seems to be heavy on shoes. The same type from brantano fell apart in a term. Her school are strict as in they must be black, no colour anywhere, but not on the type, they can wear trainers or boots.

[pointythings]

DD1 wore the Clarks brogue style this year and will be looking to get something similar for her now very much bigger feet. (adult sizes now) Her school allows any shoe as long as it is black, not a trainer and has no high heel - she is fortunately allowed boots for winter, as long as they are black.

[kilmuir]

Lace ups popular with year 9s

[alimac87]

Beware of patent brogues - we bought them for DD, they looked great but she got terrible blisters from them as the leather wouldn't give. Had to be sent home on Day 2 to change!

Now wears black ballet pump with strap, or black trainers.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Just got DDs school shoes - do I have the only girl going into year 10 who can still be persuaded to get Clarkes? . Brogues with a slight wedge - she's hoping they will make her no longer the shortest in her year. Being mistaken for a cute little year 7 was starting to wear very thin!

[MadeOfStarDust]

Ours all wear Mary Jane's or lace ups- no ballet type flats, no kickers, no canvas (except with religious exemption)...

[pointythings]

Well, went to buy school shoes today and the DDs both went for these. I like them - cushioned for the long walk to school, dead easy to polish, nice robust sole. I may get myself a pair.

[orangeandemons]

But you can buy leather Vans....

[Rufus43]

Did a straw poll the other day (stared at feet, very technical) about 30 girls checked. It was 50/50 between lace up brogue style and ballet pumps, except for one girl who had patent leather doc martins! Loved them!

[PearlyWhites]

Vans or kickers

[PearlyWhites]

Leather vans btw