Most kids would select a pair of school shoes purely based on style, while parents would cite comfort and cost as paramount, plus a shoe that looks smart. But that isn’t all you need to think about when choosing your children’s school shoes.The holy grail of school shoes is a pair that you buy in late summer that will then last your child a whole school year. Unfortunately, some children’s feet will grow quicker than that and you’ll be forced to buy a new pair within school year, which is frustrating but not as annoying as a pair of school shoes that still fit but can’t be worn – as the sole is falling off or they have a hole in them. School shoes also need to be waterproof and have good grip. Scuff protection is a good feature and younger kids who can’t do up their laces or buckles will need Velcro or Riptape straps or slip on shoes, so they can easily take them on and off.
Below are 5 Recommended School shoes for kids:
Start-rite Score Black Leather Riptape School Shoe
Our year 4 tester is only interested in a shoe they can run and play football in and the trainer style score from start-rite wins both counts. It has great grip on the sole, and even grip on one of the straps, with extra rubber on the toe for durability. The tester found it a comfy shoe from the first wear, while one of our favourite features was the reflective panels for extra visibility in low light.
Dr. Martens Junior Softy School Shoes
DMs are a classic school shoe for older kids, but the leather can be tough and take a while to wear in, so Dr. Martens have made a softy version with gentler leather for children. The older tester liked the look and style of the shoe and compared the bounce in the sole to the way a pair of trainers might feel.
John Lewis Children’s Cheshire Mary Jane Shoe
This Mary Jane Pump style with an added bow twist proved popular with our younger testers. It’s not the most robust or weatherproof shoe, but it was soft and flexible with comfy paddling in the heel. The Ripetape strap made the shoe easy to get and off for the younger kids as well, and you can also use it to adjust the tightness.
Clarks Hula Thrill School Shoe
The Hula Thrill Clarks is smart-looking shoe, but it still has many of the great features of the sportier styles, including extra toe protection, serious grip on the sole, plus good cushioning and flexibility in the fit.
Debenhams Black Leather lace Up Shoes
A classic smart lace-up shoe for older kids at a very reasonable price from Debenhams. The grip was ok but not an impressive as it was on some of the other shoes, but older children tend to dart around less so that might not be a problem. They’re also not as robust as some of the other shoes on test but the leather felt soft and flexible and with a good polish from time to time they should last well.
