School shoes

[goodsea]

Is this the right place? Secondary school board seems more about school places.

First child off to secondary in September. I'm so old and out of touch that I'm not sure what the kids as wearing to school these days. School uniform guides seem to suggest trainers ok if all black -- but where should we be looking? Boots are banned. When I was at school it was all about kickers.

Not a S&B person.
I'd double check if thinking of trainer style as many schools ban them.
Have a look at what the younger boys or girls are wearing when they are in uniform, then you'll get an idea as to what they tend to wear. Alternatively ask a parent who has children already at the school.

If trainers are ok - black air force one. Boy or girl?

Black leather trainers are ok at ours (most be "polishable"). Oldest DS has Adidas all black trainers, he previously had air force 1s bit these became extortionate when he went up to adult sizes. Youngest DS has air force 1s.
The leather converse low shoes are popular with the girls, or the air force 1s.
Both DSs had Treads shoes in Y7 though, before the peer pressure crept in!

Have a look at what current pupils are wearing.

Thanks all. Uniform guide says trainers ok if all black but from my own experience there are trainers and then the right trainers!

I do see the school kids in town but hard to really tell what they're wearing! I am not sure I know anyone with older kids at this school but that is a good idea.

Girl, narrow feet. The leather converse sound a good idea. I'll investigate.

I don't understand why boots are banned. They are in most of the secondary schools round here, and it's going to cause us some problems come September, as DD is autistic and has only worn black ankle boots, year-round, since the age of six.

Also, boots are very sensible when you consider how much it rains here! What exactly is the problem with kids having warm, dry feet?

@MadameSzyszkoBohusz I know. Madness. She wears boots to school currently as it's always wet (well not always obvs) and they keep her feet warm and dry.

No trainers allowed at ours, most of them wear DM shoes.

@cocksstrideintheevening we tried DM and too wide right now

Not trainers or anything resembling as pretty much all school ban them.

Current fashions are black ballet pump type shoes, patent loafers or patent Brogues (lipsey brand mostly)

Look at New Look or Next.

More expensive but longer lasting are DM branded shoes (not boots) but make sure they have the black thread not yellow.

Currently a secondary school teacher in an all girls comp. Spend a lot of time dealing with shoe issues, primarily the arguments over why trainers (Vans, converse, reebok, adidas etc.) are not appropriate school wear.

Sorry, cross post re DM's!

Thanks @ballonsinhightrees - I think trainers should be ok as it says ok if all black. I would prefer her in trainers to ballet pumps all day for sure.

What reasons do you give,out of interest, for trainers not being appropriate but ballet pumps are?

Look and see if there is a school Facebook page, there may be one for new intake as well.

@ballonsinhightrees other than one flouts your rules and the other doesn't although that in itself is enough I guess.

The 'problem' with boots I suspect is enforcing black ankle boots, plain low heel.
I can imagine them morphing into half way up calf / knee high, with tassels and 2 inch heel, or black wellies.

My DD2 is y13, when she was y7 many had brogues (is that right? lace up), but her school did not permit trainer style anything.

My daughter lived in loafers as her school dictated proper shoes.
my sons school allows black, polishable trainers so all the kids wear air force 1s. Although they are a pain to find in stock anywhere so ds actually wears these ones

@TeenDivided good point

I did find the school FB page and one photo does show a student in DM boots so perhaps if they are under trousers they don't mind so much.

@CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease thanks that's really helpful

@CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease

The reasons for ballet style shoes are they are cheap to buy and replace yet still conform to dress code. They are easy to take on and off for PE and performing arts lessons. They also have a wide range to allow individualisation such as material, heel height and slight decoration etc.

But I'm sure you will happily ignore this to carry on with your lazy belief that teachers are just on a power trip to enforce professional standards just because we can.

My comments are from discussing with parents and students over many years, once the discussions are had, the desperate need that students have to wear trainers (mainly motivated by non-conformism) goes away.

But you do you and I shall bow out as clearly my comments will fall on very deaf ears.

@goodsea quote meant for you, tagged wrong poster

@CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease I am so sorry, I have tagged you incorrectly in my very tired rant directed at the OP.
Please accept my apologies and feel free to report me and the post up to have deleted.

@ballonsinhightrees not sure I ever said this?

But I'm sure you will happily ignore this to carry on with your lazy belief that teachers are just on a power trip to enforce professional standards just because we can.

I was simply wondering what you said to your students? No judgment I was just wondering. I don't have any lazy beliefs around shoes - I'm simply trying to navigate the unknowns of secondary school whilst doing the best for my child's still growing feet / understanding social street cred etc.

@ballonsinhightrees my reservations against ballet pumps are they don't keep your feet very dry and that they aren't that well fitting. Fine as a fashion shoe, i would prefer at 11 she still wears a shoe that gives support, which trainers do. She's managed to learn fine conforming to a dress code at primary that included trainers.

At secondary there are other considerations including social ones which I wanted to try and be able to research in advance. Hence wondering what kids "these days" were wearing.

I was actually feeling a bit "sorry" (maybe wrong word ?) that you were in a position to have to defend the wearing of ballet pumps over trainers and I was simply wondering what on earth they might have going for them that I hadn't considered. And yes price is clearly one that you've pointed out now. But no need to be rude to me.

Loads of ours wear these as a reasonable trainer/shoe crossover.

https://www.office.co.uk/view/product/officecatalog/4,85/3541202740020?gclid=Cj0KCQiArsefBhCbARIsAP98hXSskhE6fG5ujH-n5W9a-ncfad-EXTAANnK50nzBsD2Q1FdRosxMTKUaAkXzEALwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds