School shoes for older children

[BrassicaBabe]

Hi

What are you guys buying in terms of school shoes as the children get older?

My "go-to" has always been Start Rite, black non patent, buckle, Mary Jane type shoes.

DD is heading into year 6.

My daughter had Clark’s slip on style in year 6. No straps and just plain leather. It gets even harder when they go to high school!

My 10yo chose these. They weren't her first choice, but they were the most comfortable for her odd feet. 8yo ended up with practically the same from the slightly younger section... she had been wanting brogues but her feet were the wrong shape.

www.clarksoutlet.co.uk/p/59236047

DD has worn Clarks Hamble Oaks since year 5 (size 7) they are fairly expensive but she's hard on the heels and it works out a lot cheaper to get them resoled than to buy new ones everytime she wears the heels down.

She did find when she first started wearing them that she was always later getting changed for PE as they are more structured than velcro shoes and having to loosen all the laces so I bought silicon dress shoe laces from amazon which are brilliant, tight when you walk but easy to slip your shoe off when getting changed.

My dd also had Hamble Oaks all the way through secondary. You can often get them reduced.

My youngest girl Dr Marten lace ups last year when she was in Year nine as her feet have stopped growing so they are going to last forever. I hope!

I thought you were going to say 15-16!

Clarks or Start Rite are fine still and for secondary.

Most of the girls I teach are still wearing Clarks shoes all the way through secondary, (same as the staff ) - brogues/loafers/Mary Janes.

Mind you, all schools in our area are strict on footwear rules so there's no pushback or anyone trying to wear trainers, pumps or other casual shoes like I hear about on here.

I have gone for M&S this year for my two. They have a good range online. I've not received them or tried them on yet so fingers crossed. Quite a few mum friends use the M&S school shoes so I thought it was worth a try.
To be honest I have always used Clarks but I have gotten sick of going there and them never having the size of the style I want anyway so ending up with 3rd or 4th choice and them insisting on a size that barely fits so they are grown out of in a few short weeks. But anyway, that is an entirely different thread!!!
My two are 6 and 9.

Because DD is now a size 6.5 I've had to go to M&S. She's got fairly average lace-up brogues.

I've just bought my 15 year old dd start rite loafers and she's quite fashion conscious!

Before the loafers she had geox t bar flats for years!

Dd will be going into Y5. Her M&S shoes are still in great condition from last Sept but are now too small. We will just size up/similar style from M&S again.

My dd is similar age and has always had t-bar/Mary Janes. This time she has asked for lace up brogues. Dd1 had similar at that age then went for loafers at around 13.
My dcs school have them change into trainers for break times, so they don't ruin their school shoes playing football.... or walk mud through the school after.

DD has worn Startrite brogues since Y4 and I’ve just got her the same style to go into Y7.

Brogues. Either clarks/start rite/pedasil/etc. Whichever style fit best at the time. No one has slip on shoes at our school.

I prefer docs as they get older, especially when their feet stop growing!

I had docs at school. They are fab. Our school doesnt allow them! Or trainers.

Dd2 had docs. They are cool and very hard wearing but so, so heavy.

Thanks all! Very helpful. Just wanted a check in on what others were buying. I don't want DD to end up with something terrible just because her mother is out of touch!!

We'll go with brogues I think. Worried that loafers might become "sloppy".

Yeah I wouldn't do loafers for little ones

Do you know anyone with older girls at thw school? It can be quite school specific I think. Some schools allow black trainers which is the "thing" when allowed!

Ds2 managed to wear out his dm’s. They’re not as robust as they used to be.

I bought him some Treadz which are wearing well

They get badly scuffed very quickly