Help me parse "school shoes" vs. trainers

[ysette9]

As a new parent newly moved to the UK, I appreciate these forums as a source of advice. My oldest is starting Year 7 and we are parsing the uniform policy. I've never experienced a shoe policy other than "wear something you can safely run and play in", so figuring out what is considered school shoes is a bit mysterious.

I looked at the example images the school provided of acceptable footwear, and it is a collection of horrifyingly ugly and horrifyingly uncomfortable/disfiguring torture devices. I want their feet to be in foot-shaped, flexible, flat shoes to promote balance and proper development. I found these shoes that seem to fit the bill, but my spouse is concerned they look too "trainer-like". Neither of us can determine what a trainer is or is not. I know the decision is ultimately up to the judges at school, but I'd love your collective input to help educate me.

These are the shoes: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187473076260 I blacked out the edges to make it more subtle. I'll see if I can figure a way to add an attachment to this post with the actual photos.

They need to be made of leather basically.

Clarks do some brogue type ones that have served my tomboyish DD well for years and she happily plays football in. I'll try to find a picture.

I think "polishable" is the key word there. You can't polish a trainer.

Trainer is just British for sneakers if that helps.

What's causing confusion is absolutely everyone of all ages (including the 80 somethings in my choir!) wears trainers 90% of the time these days, so schools are increasingly out of step with the general population.

Girls Finja Brogue Youth Black Leather Brogues | Clarks UK https://share.google/O2VYNoKp6nEDLqv0i

The thing is, they wools be able to concentrate on educational excellence if the children were just dressed appropriately in the first place but unfortunately some parents don’t seem to be able to make decisions that support their children just being able to go to school and get on with learning. That’s how you end up with a child who isn’t toilet trained in super tight skinny jeans and a button fly and one who wants to go on a trampoline wearing converse that they can’t get on and off.

Happy Little Soles have a decent range of barefoot friendly school shoes, for examples

@BetweenTwoFerns they don't seem to have issues in France where there is largely no school uniform.

You have provided extreme examples by the way. I'd have no issue with a non toilet trained neuro typical child being sent home until they were toilet trained.

But seriously I pass local children in their uniforms. Polyester blazers, ankle socks, ballerina shoes, above the knee skirts. They look hideous. They would look much better in jeans, t shirt, hoody and trainers. The whole thing is an utter nonsense.

Providing shoes are low heeled or flat why does it matter if they are trainers or leather lace-ups?

Schools need to move the fuck on with trainers. Really.

I wish those examples were extreme but they are just two kids from my actual reception class last year. Those converse were my nemesis. I also had one whose coat was an all in one affair that he had to take his shoes off to put on. He must have spent over an hour a day just taking his all in one coat on and off.

I’m not a big supporter of ridiculous school uniform rules but some people just seem to be incapable of making clothing choices for their children that are appropriate for the situation.

Why would you buy second hand shoes from EBay if you’re concerned about good foot support? That doesn’t make sense. And colouring in the logo will look messy.

You just need sensible rules then. When my dc were four years old (now 30 and 27) they had to wear proper cotton shirts and a tie. The reception teacher and ta never stopped whingeing about the children not having mastered buttons and ties. I suggested that it might be easier if four year olds had polos and the look I got. I didn't mind the traditional uniform back then but I did mind the constant whingeing which I found illogical.

Just go with something like this

https://www.startriteshoes.com/products/glitch-black-leather-boys-lace-up-school-shoes?_gl=1176ik4d_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5c_FBhDJARIsAIcmHK-iCkWVvcCcKzEuY10uwjZz72rHheKO8e5dtCiExDwomAyCOfdRJAwaAqdGEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAAD7OCwBQ07mmkTAz2Ycy-rVnNWaEn

Looks like your school has a very strict shoe
policy

Gorgeous. But also a trainer.
Would much rather dc be in barefoot than squeezing their foot into a clarks brogue.

It's still worth getting feet professionally measured even if shoes aren't bought from the shop.

DD had very narrow feet, and I often ended up getting her shoes from Clinkards.

I’m afraid they wouldn’t pass at our school as they look too casual / trainer like. Can you go to Clarks and get some from there. Normally they have a slight heal.

Do you think the reception teacher and TA devised the uniform code 😂?

As others say @ysette9 it varies by school. My DCs’ school said black, polishable (so not canvas), no logos (so all-black Nikes not ok, nor the eBay pair you posted), no boots, low heel or flat.

Then they changed it to say no trainer-style shoes; DS was a big footballer at lunchtime and the Clarks school shoes that were lace-up in a trainer style came under this heading – IIRC I called the school out on this and they agree he could wear them – this kind of thing.
https://www.clarks.com/en-gb/urban-solo-older/26178424-p

The school I worked in was OK with trainers as long as they were plain black; from a different thread some schools are OK with Nike Airforce 1s but they would be too logoed for either my DCs' school or where I worked.

ETA: I see you have updated @ysette9 yes the ones you linked at first would not be any good – they have a logo and the sole would probably need to be black. The Clarks ones I have pasted in here would be OK tho I think.

Or these are even better (sorry these are for a boy rather than a girl as a rule) – no one could argue with these and they look comfortable and practical to me.
https://www.clarks.com/en-gb/lorcam-edge-youth/26178303-p
ETA: pix not showing so have added links

Those shoes you show look like sensible school shoes to me. So maybe I don’t get it either 🤣It doesn‘t look like they are brand new shoes, so I would just send him in those and see what they say. Unless he‘s super sensitive and having it mentioned would ruin his first day… I think these will get through and if they don‘t, he’ll most likely be asked to change them by the end of the week. If that happens go to Clarks and pick from their school section. I know it‘s annoying but not worth getting too deep about.

OP, as opinions differ on this thread, can you ask the school?? Make it clear you have already bought the shoes ( if I have understood correctly?) and send a photo. I reckon they’ll be happy with them but really hard to predict

Actually @ysette9 I’m a bit confused. Did you buy those shoes from eBay? And then black out the soles? Is that the second pic you posted? They look very worn, which would not be my choice for my DC. You feel very strongly about foot development, so I am surprised that well-worn secondhand shoes are acceptable to you. Unless I have totally misunderstood and this is a pair your DC have had from new and worn in, in which case apologies.

I infer you have an image of the horrifyingly ugly (quite likely) shoes that your DC’s school finds acceptable – are you happy to post it here, as that will give us all a decent steer?

Imagine being in SLT discussing sock colour and the direct impact on attainment. Honestly! 😂😂

No. But as it was the uniform code and theh reception teacher was an Assistant Head, perhaps they could have stopped whingeing, don't you think? They certainly had more influence over the rules than the parents or children.

If you’re concerned about the health of your child’s feet then don’t buy second hand shoes. Shoes mould to their owner’s feet, so won’t fit a second owner’s foot properly. Those in your link look well worn.

To echo others, go to Clarks or John Lewis and ask for school shoes.

Unless he’s 20 and has stopped growing, they won’t be “forever” shoes and you can get something different when you know the lay of the land.

I agree with everyone else that it would be good to speak to someone from the school. It does totally depend of the school, DS's school is very strict on shoes and even some of the Clarks styles aren't acceptable. Where as my school is fine as long as they are black leather and no logo's. So they are a bit more flexible.

They wouldn't be acceptable at DS's school and they do have uniform inspection and would get a warning for them.

@Lady1576 has nobody ever taught the teachers that socks should be the same or a darker colour than the shoes 😀. I loved the class my children's teachers brought to the table.