School Shoes

The Best School Shoes for 2023

Read our recommendations The Best School Shoes for an overview of the best of this season's latest School Shoe arrivals showing you why we think they're the best of the bunch.

Tips for Buying School Shoes

Our team of professional shoe fitters has shared some top tips for buying school shoes based on decades of experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should I Buy School Shoes?

As a rule, you don’t want to buy your children’s school shoes more than three weeks before they start the new school term. It’s unlikely they will grow a lot in this short time, but with kids running about more, it often appears their feet have stretched. However, the later you leave it, the more stock will disappear and the selection of styles and fittings in the back-to-school rush.

Try to avoid shoe shopping if your child is unwell, tired, irritable or hungry. Try to shop at the best time of day for your child. Do they struggle in the mornings and are generally grumpy? Then rather go in the afternoon. Do they get tired easily in the afternoons? Then rather go first thing in the morning. Shops are typically quieter in the early morning or late afternoon. Weekdays are also quieter as are sunny days.

If your child has been running around and their feet are hot and swollen, this is probably not the best time to have shoes fitted as this may affect the size of their new shoes slightly. If they have been wearing shoes or socks which are too small for them immediately prior to fitting, this can also affect the size of their feet.

What To Look For When Buying School Shoes? 

Make sure you purchase good-quality shoes that are manufactured with the health of your child’s feet in mind. We recommend school shoes made from a quality breathable material such as leather that will naturally stretch and shape to the foot. Sometimes this can mean the latest fashion trends are not suitable. We know from experience in our stores that this can be a tough situation for parents to handle.

How Do I Get The Correct School Shoe Size?

Poor-fitting shoes worn on a regular basis can lead to a number of foot health problems. Not to mention the fact they’ll be quite uncomfortable for your child. To ensure that you buy the correct shoe size for your child, take advantage of local experts who are trained, can professionally fit school shoes and have years of experience. Our stores in Elgin, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Peterhead, Inverurie, Inverness & Perth provide this service. Book a Kids Fitting Appointment today. 

Should I Buy School Shoes A Size Bigger?

With children's feet able to grow 2 full sizes a year you may consider buying a size up. It is extremely important that you don't do this as the shoes will be disproportionate to your child's feet. According to the Childrens Foot Health Register, 70% of foot health problems originate from wearing ill-fitting shoes and the majority of these issues are from shoes worn during childhood.

Should You Wear School Shoes In? 

We don’t recommend wearing new shoes all day from new. Let your child wear them intermittently at first as this will give their feet a chance to get used to them. During summer, children often wear fabric, open or soft footwear that can make their feet soft and cause them to spread. This means that when they put their feet into a more structured new shoe, they will feel them harder and perhaps slightly constricted for a while and prone to blistering. Wearing them for short periods will allow the feet & shoes to get used to each other and can help avoid the inevitability of blisters.

What Type Of Fastening Should School Shoes Have?

Shoes that have a Velcro strap are more suited for younger children as they are easy to fasten. Typically, the better brands get the fastenings in the right place which means the fit is normally excellent. A Velcro strap fastening is far better than any slip-on shoe as they allow for adjustments.

The shoe itself should fit securely and be comfortably fastened. This leads to a reduced incidence of problems associated with movement inside the shoe. Once your child has learned to tie their shoelaces you will have the flexibility of buying any kind of shoe that either fits best or they like the most.

Are Plimsolls Good For Your Feet?

There is nothing wrong with wearing a pair of plimsolls, but you should always remember that your children's foot health should be your main priority. Teachers may insist on kids wearing plimsolls to protect the carpets, however, your child's health is more important than floors. A few points to remember when buying plimsolls is that they are only available in an average fitting and surveys show that just 28% of children have average fitting feet (according to the Society of Shoe Fitters). Additionally, the sole of plimsolls is not as strong as other shoe options, resulting in less protection for your kid's feet.