Trainers

[Icedlatteplease]

Could you wear a smart pair of black trainers at your school

As a teacher

Yes - primary

in Primary and it says in our dress code that we can’t, but a lot of people wear plain black or white pump style trainers. Like not sporty ones like adidas or Nike, but more the type you’d get from M&S!

Secondary, we can't (unless for medical reason such as a foot injury). I get away with open toed sandals and Ugg style boots though...

I do. Mine are blue...to go with my jeans.
Used to be primary (independent), switching to our secondary section after the summer.
I teach abroad, though. 😁

Yes. Primary and special schools I've worked in trainers have been acceptable.

Yes - I can wear trainers (any sort) everyday. I teach PE twice a week, and do wake and shake activities daily, and run around (KS1) constantly so I’m very glad of it. I’m always astonished by Primary teachers in really high heels. Old Headteacher said trainers only on PE days, but current head doesn’t mind.

I do in my secondary school. Today I wore a purple dress and lilac trainers. I am at the stage of my life where I don't give a monkeys any more. I have a lot of metal in one leg and cannot wear any sort of heels. I used to try to find boots or flat shoes previously, but have worn trainers for every day of this academic year so far and nobody has said anything.

At the end of the day, I think they would rather have me there delivering quality lessons albeit in less formal footwear than in pain or taking time off.

Strong no at our secondary school.

Definite no at my (secondary) school. The only staff permitted to wear trainers are PE and even they have to change to formal wear for things like parents evening.

We have quite a strict dress code though.

No trainers, no leggings (even under a dress), tattoos should be minimal or covered, blazer jackets have to be worn for assembly and parent meetings/open evening etc - we don't have to wear them in the classroom. PE staff have to wear branded school kit.

I'm just wondering if those schools with strict dress codes get amazing results. Our results are pretty good even with things being more relaxed. It used to be "no visible tattoos" and "only one earring in each earlobe" but now teachers have nose piercing and nobody complains. The Head who wrote the dress code was a bullying tosser and under his watch things slid a bit. This Head has been in post for 9 years and results have improved whilst the dress code has been relaxed.

We are quite academic and get good results, even without the dress code. Our school uniform is also very relaxed (various choices of tops in a range of colours...bottoms aren't regulated and the kids are fine wearing trainers or sandals or boots or whatever).

State schools here generally don't have a school uniform and they perform well regardless.

I had one headteacher, who wanted to introduce "business attire" for the teachers. We said we'd wear it, if she footed the bill for everyone to get new clothes. The idea died a very quick death...

We can (primary). We’ve always been fairly relaxed & since Covid anything goes really. DH’s school on the other hand are super strict & it’s a 3 piece suit even on school trips (which I think is crazy personally). Tbf both schools are well performing & there have been lots of improvements at DH’s since they introduced the stricter uniform rules.

Yes, in fact I don't think a dress code for staff even exists any more. TAs are particularly casual, wearing leggings or occasionally jeans and trainers. We also all wear open toed or slip on sandals which I know are also often not allowed.

We can wear very casual clothes. Jeans, trainers, even shorts - unusual I know. In the playground you can't spot us among the parents. We are a state primary.