School Shoes - Opinions Please - Shoes or Trainers?

[Housemum]

The rules for our local secondary school state:
"No Boots, trainers, sports shoes, plimsolls, fabric or any shoe with sports branding, boots, Uggs, sandals, mules, flip flops, stiletto heels, court shoes"

So are these shoes or trainers? I think they are not trainers as you wouldn't play sport in them (and not made by a trainer brand) and they are called shoes, some of my friends disagree.

This Style

And surely the majority of Velcro shoes on this page of school shoes would also be trainers if this style isn't a shoe?

page of school shoes

Searching here for advice as have asked 6 local mums, the only ones I'm FB friends with who have secondary kids, and they have been divided 50/50 - I like these shoes as they are the only ones to fit well on her narrow feet (and she won't do laces - coordination issues possibly linked to her autism or possibly just laziness!)

They would be acceptable at most primary schools but would be deemed too trainer like at all the secondaries in my area.

Ds has very small narrow feet (& asd). He began a very strict secondary school wearing these.

www.geox.com/en/back-to-school/jr-william-black-J54E6A00043C9999.html?cgid=hidden-back-to-school-fw17#prefn1=hexadecBasicColor&prefv1=Black&page=1&start=5

A lot of schools are starting to say, "shoes that can be polished" to solve the argument over trainers/shoes.

Generally trainers/uggs/canvas can't be.

Definitely wouldn't be allowed at DD's secondary.

The velcro ones would probably be fine in primary but wouldn't work at secondary though.

As a general rule, if there's a question mark or you think they are trainer styled then they probably aren't ok.

If your child has additional needs, speak to the school first week back and see if they can take it into account. E.g. I have had students with sensory needs who've had some ammendments made to their uniform Eg wearing a top under the shirt, not having to wear a jumper/blazer, flexibility on footwear etc.

First impressions - I'd say trainers. If in any doubt, contact the school, explain you're having problems finding shoes that fit and see what they say. Take a note of who you speak to, so if any issues are raised when she starts you can refer back.

My DD has always been very petite and I struggled to find exactly what the school wanted for a few things. They were really helpful and told me what they would accept as an alternative. They stipulated laces (not velcro) but DD's feet were so small she was still in young kids shoes/trainers and I had no choice - the school happily accepted my argument.

Most schools will be like that ifonly in my experience. They're generally reasonable if there are issues.

Where schools get annoyed is when people spend a small fortune on branded cool trainers that are designed to be fashionable and somehow (despite being blatantly trainers!) mask as shoes despite being told the rules. Those parents kick off saying 'But I just spent £70 on these shoes and now you're telling me they aren't shoes' and are usually the ones by September 10th in the local press with their moody faces on about how their child's learning is being disputed because the school have placed them in isolation for deliberately ignoring school rules.

DD1 is going to wear these ankle boots. She's got some problems with her ankles and she's going to a special school, so I doubt they'll be too worried, but as far as I'm concerned they're black, and they're mostly leather. That's good enough.

lougle Wouldn't be allowed at our school except in special circumstances like yours due to high ankle

It's frustrating that I went to a "school shoe" shop yet loads of the styles look like they aren't "shoes"!

when people spend a small fortune on branded cool trainers that are designed to be fashionable

I have just done exactly that for DS - his school don't care about shoes/trainers. Well they didn't last year... let's see, I have bet him he will get in trouble this year!! Tbh he needs trainers for weekends anyway so I don't mind if he ends up needing proper shoes too.

I'd get a brogue lace up style. I think the ones in your first link will be classed as trainers.

Definitely too trainer like IMO. The school my sons go to even show sample pictures by brand of different shoes they consider suitable!!

If you can find a brogue style lace up for a narrow foot please post the link. Dd has narrow feet and wears orthotics - she can only wear Mary Jane style shoes, which are not very practical in the winter and I guess a bit young for her but we have literally no choice and wearing boots is unfortunately forbidden - with uniform it often feels like rules for the sake of rules!

I was also going to suggest brogues.

Blanket my friend gets her daughter's shoes from Zappos.com as she has really narrow feet.

My dd is a C width and I have found it easier to find her shoes now she's in adult sizes. She wears clarks brogues.

She started late in the year so I took a lot of notice of shoes and bags when I went to look round, especially as we had moved from another country. There were no Velcro shoes to be seen.

Lady I wouldn't know where to start with that website and I shop online for everything! We have been taking dd to the same shoe shop since she was a toddler because they were the only place that did the job properly and had the shoes - the range rarely changes.
These brogues are a good narrow fit but dd found the heel too high and frequently went over on her ankle.
These are the only shoes that fit her, she's had to give up on looking cool at school but as I said, hardly winter wear. Her narrow feet are so impossibly hard to fit.

It's frustrating that I went to a "school shoe" shop yet loads of the styles look like they aren't "shoes"!
You have my total sympathy. What shops try to market as school uniform is often questionable.

On an Asda back to school advert (in July!!) there was a shirt with no top button and peplums on the side. No way it would be allowed in any secondary near me. It was being modelled on a primary child, who surely doesn't need design features to emphasise womanly curves.

Blanket I must admit I've never ordered from them because it's a confusing website. My son has very narrow feet and he always had Doc Marten school shoes as they are a narrow fit, but having boys I haven't a clue whether they do girls school shoes. They could be worth looking at if they do.

Doc Martins are ok as boots as they grip around her ankle but the shoes don't work as even her ankles are ridiculously skinny! It's always been a massive issue for us.

Brogues are a no as she won't do laces (and a lot are quite wide) - if she'd accept brogues my life would be easy!

And I know what you mean about the questionable uniforms - my youngest daughter modelled a dress for the m&s website, school summer dress with a "frozen" logo on it!

Even with locklaces? Or you could thread black elastic through the lace holes.

Our school sent details of some approved styles. So much easier - just chose one of them. Mind you, my kids aren't at the stage where they care very much what their school shoes look like.