School Shoes Questions Answered!

March 21, 2025

The new school term can be a very busy time for mums and dads out there, with lots of stuff to organise and buy, from school uniforms, study books and stationery to a new pair of shoes. It can also be very expensive with the average parents spending on average a huge £240 per child to kit them out for the new school year. Here at shoezone we can definitely help you save the pennies on boy's school shoes and girl's school shoes with our huge range of Back to School footwear.

Before buying school shoes always check the school's uniform policies and if you have any questions speak to your child's teacher. Kids will wear their school shoes for such a huge part of the day it's vital that they fit well and are comfy on their feet whilst they are in the classroom learning.

We know a lot of you have some questions about those all-important school shoes, so put your feet up, grab a cuppa and let us take you through our school shoe guide...

When to Buy School Shoes

This is the one question that gets asked time and time again, so when is the best time to buy those all-important school shoes?

Do not buy school shoes before the Summer holidays, not even in those first few weeks, it might be tempting to be super organised but kids feet grow at a very rapid rate and what fits at the start of the holidays could be two times too small come the new school term.

It's really important not to leave it too late when buying their school shoes, you need at least a couple of weeks for them to wear them in or take them back and exchange them if needs be. In the last couple of weeks of the holiday put one weekend aside to take the kids shoe shopping, it's always important to take them with you to ensure they get a good fit.

Overall you should be buying school shoes every term or two. Ideally, they should be lasting for 6 months plus, however, as we know kids love nothing more than running, playing and jumping around so they can get scuffed easily. Try and do a little shoe care at home before you give in and chuck them away, you can change laces and insoles yourself and don't forget to give them a bit of a polish before school starts on a Monday morning. The other thing that determines how many times you replace them is how quickly the kid's feet grow, they will, of course let you know if their shoes are uncomfortable but always bear it in mind.

Which Shoes Are Suitable For School?

Before buying any school shoes it's important to familiarise yourself with the school's uniform policy. For new schools, they will give you a list before term starts of what you will need to buy. The majority of schools advise their students to wear smart black shoes for school; they not only give their uniform a smart twist they also send out a good message which reflects well on the school. It's important that the shoes are durable and comfortable as they are going to be worn for long periods of time.

Choosing School Shoes for Girls

There is a huge choice of footwear out there when it comes to choosing girl's school shoes, which will make life a little easier when it comes to kitting them out for the new term.

For younger girls going into their first school years, there are some lovely little styles out there that will not only keep her feet comfy but they will look super pretty too. Choose from matte and patent finishes. Styles with embroidered patterns and flashing lights will make wearing a school uniform a little more fun while the easy fasten strap will ensure she can do them back up herself after taking them off for PE. If your little girl is a bit rough with her shoes, pick out a style that has a scuff resistant coating so they last that bit longer and a padded ankle collar will ensure she is super comfy.

One style that will suit all girls of all ages is the classic ballerina, this style doesn't tend to last as long but the choice of styles is so endless she will be spoilt. As long as they are black most schools will allow a bit of style and personality to come through in her shoes. Pick from pretty bows, edgy studs and classic buckles to name a few. These will look great with either her school trousers or skirt. As ballerinas don't tend to last long, pick up a couple of pairs to last her through the term, at our fantastic low prices you can afford to.

It's always worth thinking about investing in a good pair of leather school shoes, these not only offer durability and longevity they will also sit more comfortably on her feet, so you can rest assured she is getting on with her school work and not complaining about her shoes. Leather loafers are a classic school shoe that has been around for generations so you can be sure it's a wardrobe staple. Leather shoes do tend to be more expensive, however, at the end of the day you get what you pay for.

T-bar shoes are an ultimate school shoe; perfect for primary and secondary school students they are a super versatile style. There are many fashionable styles to choose from, so you can be sure to find something for your little or older girls. They nearly always come with an easy fasten strap, which is perfect for younger girls while pretty details such as butterflies, flowers, bows and studs are perfect for older girls wanting to add a stylish twist to their look.

There will come a time, probably when they move up into secondary school that the question about wearing heels will come up, you want them to be able to dress as they want but the schools have a strict policy when it comes to heels, so how do you compromise.

A small chunky, block heel is best for school or perhaps a more stylish wedge style, these are super comfortable because as we know wearing heels all day can be tough on our feet, again always check back on the uniform policy to ensure that she is wearing the correct heel height.

Choosing School Shoes for Boys

For any parent of those boisterous little boys buying school shoes can be a tiring job, however, armed with a few style tips we are about to share you can pick the right footwear for him....

For very young boys who are just starting out on their school journey, a classic pair of slip ons will not only keep his feet comfy when running around the playground at lunchtime, they are super easy for him to get on and off himself, which as we mentioned before is perfect for after PE lessons. Choosing styles which include flashing lights and other interesting detailing will make dressing smart for school that bit more fun.

Another style that would be perfect for those younger boys is an easy fasten pair of shoes. These are so easy to get on and off his feet himself and they look smart too. Choose styles that have interesting laces, stitch detail and even their favourite characters.

As they move up a school year or two you can think about other styles such as a pair of durable leather shoes, there are some fantastic slip on and lace up styles out there that will offer him comfort and durability. These shoes tend to last a bit longer which is fantastic for little boys on the go all the time. Leather shoes mould really well to their feet so you can rest assured he will be comfy.

As with teenage girls, there will come a time when your teenage boy will start to think a little more about his appearance. For a sharp, smart look a lace up shoe is going to be perfect, there are some stylish details he can pick out such as brogue and pepperpot detailing, this adds an eye-catching and personal touch to his uniform. For a quirky finish why not add a funky pair of socks, this will give a flash of colour when he walks, perhaps a pair in the school's colours! Another way he could make his shoes "cool" is to lace them up a bit differently; small details like this will make him feel as if his uniform is a bit more personal.

When choosing shoes for both girls and boys it's always important that their feet feel comfortable and that they are happy with the shoes they have, for older children always let them choose their own, however, make sure they stick to the school's rules.

Buying School Shoes: Our Top Tips

To make shopping for those all-important back to school shoes even easier we have put together our top tips. If you have any of your own tips and tricks, do let us know...

Do shop around, if you are struggling to find the perfect shoes for your little one's feet, don't be afraid to shop around. Have a look online on parenting blogs and forums to see where other parents are shopping and check out price comparison websites to ensure you get a good deal. If you're a parent on a budget check out our back to school range instore and online here.

Bear in mind that a lot of the big supermarkets now sell school shoes and with many offering a discount or a bundle offer it's always worth checking them out.

Don't expect them to last forever, kid's love nothing more than jumping, climbing and running around, with all that energy to burn off their shoes can take a bit of a battering. It can be expensive replacing their school shoes but it's important to remember that they are wearing them all day every day. Going for a more expensive pair doesn't necessarily mean they are going to last, take your time when choosing, pick out leather styles or styles with a thicker more durable sole. It's important that the kid's feet are comfy so always get their opinion and measure their feet.

Top Tip: As we mentioned before, a bit of simple shoe care than really help make their shoes last longer, a pair of new laces or a new insole can make them feel as good as new while a polish on a Sunday evening can keep them looking smart!

Do have a look online, many stores have a fantastic range of school shoes on their websites so it's always worth checking it out and with many offering pounds off you could save a bundle. If you have any concerns or worries about how the shoes are going to fit, leave plenty of time in case you have to return them or visit the store first so they can try them on. Here at shoezone we have a foot measure in all our stores which is handy when it comes to measuring their feet for the new school term.

Don't panic if they have wide feet, we know finding shoes for children with wider feet can be difficult and hard to find as many companies are only just looking into selling them. If you can't find what you're looking for in the adult wider fitting section it might be best to find your local independent shoe shop and pay them a visit. These little shops are perfect for this sort of foot complaint as they have styles that have been made all over the world. Styles such as Hush Puppies and Kickers are great for wider feet, you do pay a little bit more but it is worth it to keep their little feet comfy.

Don't panic if they have narrow feet, again the same rules apply to narrow feet. Try adding or removing the insoles in their shoes and if that doesn't work again a visit to your local independent shoe shop might be able to help and offer more guidance on what will work.

Do always get them to try their shoes on, it goes without saying really, unless you are confident they haven't gone up a size always get them to try the shoes on before buying them. Get them to walk around and try them on with socks as they would wear them to school. A couple of days before going back to school get them to wear them in a little bit around the house to ensure when the first day does come around they are not going to end up with achy and blistered feet.

Do find a quiet period to visit the store, during the Summer holidays is the perfect time to visit the store to try on the shoes. You don't want to be rushed; they will be wearing them for a long time so getting it right with the fit is essential.

So there we have it, we hope we have managed to answer all those Back to School shoe questions you might have had and given you some valuable tips when it comes to picking out the right footwear for their little feet. Always check the uniform policy of the school and always get them to try the shoes on, comfort is key!!

Check out the shoezone blog for more style tips and footwear suggestions for every occasion.