Trouble with new shoes

[boobyooby]

I bought eldest daughter new school shoes last week but her form tutor upon noticing them Friday marched her off to Head of Year and between them they have decided they are not shoes but trainers. She argued back that they were from the school shoe section of shop but form tutor replied of course that's what they will tell you in the shop to get your sale!

They were from the school shoe section
and I've since called up the company making the shoe customer services to ask what they call them. Have code on box and name and they confirmed they are a new range of leather school shoes which I now have from them in writing.

School are adamant they are not shoes but are now calling them pumps not trainers and she was sent out of form again for wearing them and I have spoken to the next person higher than head of year. She insists they break school uniform guidelines as she thinks they are pumps so I've asked her to provide her evidence to claim this and what part of "plain black shoes, must be flat, no glitter or studs" they don't conform too.

Was promised the situation would be resolved by this morning but of course have not heard anything - how do I get a response or how long should I leave it before I take it further to find out why they feel they aren't shoes although I have it in writing they are leather shoes and complain about the teachers attitudes

There is no way they'd be allowed for PE, no black trainers either

I'll report back tomorrow when the dep head rings!

Did warn you they were practical and sturdy - she leaves this summer but think these will march on for a few years!!

Those are shoes. I had similar, no issue.

They wouldn't be allowed at DDs school. The guidelines specifically state something like 'not all shoes in the school shoes section are permissible. Ask for formal school shoes. If in doubt contact school before purchasing'.

OP. Those shoes will come in handy after school. Buy a replacement pair that meets the rules, and keep those for when she needs to be more formal out of school.

Is the rule for 'shoe' then that the sole must have a separate heel?

Doesn't that contradict the 'flat' part of the instruction?

We're still at the primary school stage but I'm really not looking forward to the pedantry that seems to go along with school shoes at secondary.

DS's boring black Velcro "school section" clarks could be considered trainers by some, it just seems to be what is made by the manufacturers!

Do parents really have to contact the school to check shoes are acceptable? Maybe if schools were inundated with requests they would relax a little!

And in answer to you post: shoes.

Oh, I've taken to preemptively emailing school about this sort of thing already, Pertunia. DD has triangular feet and whacking great orthotic insoles so she needs shoes with full laces, very wide at the toes, and good heel depth: 'Trainers would be ideal', to quote her orthotics chappie.

So I tend to whizz a quick and somewhat disingenuous email to school saying 'We've found these monstrosities, nearest I can get to plain black flats with removable insoles, could you let me know quickly if that will be a problem as DD is already embarrassed about the wretched things? Otherwise I'd better order them in so we have them in good time.'

On the rare occasions that anyone's read the message, they've tended to say 'That's fine, and we'll try not to embarrass DD further.'

Frankly, though, I wish schools would stop fussing about footwear, unless they are prepared to specify 'Hardwearing and practical for walking home' as the main criterion.

I don't think they would be permitted at my son's school.

It's all in the heel.

However, the school should accept it was an error. You can't be expected to go and buy new shoes. And they need to put out very clear guidelines on what is acceptable and not acceptable, which my son's school has which is how I know these would not be.

Treating your dd as a fibber isn't on. Not many teenagers buy their own school shoes.

They are shoes. If they weren't shiney they'd be what female police officers wear!

Also, they're ideal for a two mile walk home.
School should not be encouraging "dress" shoes for all-day wear including active travel.

Treating your dd as a fibber isn't on. Not many teenagers buy their own school shoes.

Maybe not. But most teenagers would realise that those are quite different from what the majority wear and therefore may well not be acceptable...

If everyone was wearing Kick Lo patents before, there isn't a lot of difference.

Trouble is if you look on the Schuh website and search for girls' school shoes, 219 mostly unsuitable 'school shoes' appear;

www.schuh.co.uk/kids/girls-school-shoes/

So the tutor who said 'that's what they will tell you in the shop to get your sale' is probably right.

I don't think it's relevant what the shop call them as it's the school that decide how they classify them on their uniform list. What does it say on the school uniform policy about what is required? The sole is made from a shoe like material, but i think it is the flatness of it that is making them say it's a pump. Usually there is some distinction between the front sole, the heel and the bit in between on a shoe. On the kickers hi lo that is made by the front sole and heel having ridges but the bit in between doesn't.

Maybe you could whittle them, OP?

Good idea. Carve them into a shoe.

This drives me mad - my dcs have narrow feet with orthotics and they walk 30 mins to school, finding a comfortable walking shoe to fit is hard enough without bloody stupid school footwear objections. Last pair of shoes ds had were deemed to be too trainer-like and we were told not to buy another pair - thing is when we find a pair that works we stick with the same pair - so after 3 years of wearing the same style of shoe, on a whim the HT decides they aren't suitable. The search just gets harder and harder.

For goodness sake, they're shoes! They're nothing like trainers. My dd is currently wearing similar to school (see pic) - they'll last a whole year, they're comfortable, and they're warm and dry.

And we're told no fashion shoes - now how the hell do you determine what that means!!!!! Fashion is just current - it's not bad in itself, how could be be? School encourage you to seek their advice before making a purchase - how does that work - will the HT provide her home phone number for shopping consultations on a Saturday. I often think HTs live in an alternative universe.

Well .... the update is, I've no update ... I've not heard anything since Tuesday late afternoon when I was told I would be rung Weds morning as they hadn't had time on Tuesday

I'm off to work now so they can only get me on my mobile, bit tricky at work but hopefully I can take the call althoughistillfindtimeto-mn--

Look more like trainers to me. But then I've noticed a rise in trainer-esque 'school shoes' turning up in shops. Those ones are closer to the shoe end than some of the ones ive seen.
A bit like legging style trousers and short jersey skirts being sold in the 'back to school' section and shirts with no top button.

Shops will brand stuff as 'back to school' because they know kids will want more fashionable items and pester power of 'but mam it says school' will get them the sale.

To me trainers are something you would wear for sports. There is no way they look appropriate for any kind of sport. They definitely look more like DMs. Really feel for you daughter in all of this, you brought them in good faith.

They look like trainers. They are shoes that are designed to appear like trainers imo.

Definitely shoes. The school is nuts. Hope you get it sorted soon. DMs are not cheap either.

They are shoes that are designed to appear like trainers imo.
It's a growing issue in school. Rather than selling school shoes lots of makes knowing schools dont allow black trainers (some schools used to say black shoes) they make trainer style shoes that people will buy because they'll claim 'they look like shoes and were in the school section'.

The OPs ones arent the most ridiculous trainer/shoes I've seen. It seems reasonable they could have been bought in good faith. Sometimes that kind of confusion happens.
But its worth being very aware that lots of brands are tapping into fashionable schoolwear and it's a pain (especially when you get black uggs being passed off or leggings style trousers etc and then home shout off about how the uggs are shoes).

Maisypops - are you a teacher?