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6 best kids’ school shoes to get them off on the right foot this September

Comfortable, hard-wearing and approved by kids – these are the school shoe styles to invest in right now

Martha Alexander
Thursday 09 June 2022 17:13 BST
<p>We looked for style, durability, sizing, price and comfort</p>

We looked for style, durability, sizing, price and comfort

Our Top Picks

Nothing says “back to school” like a box fresh pair of smart shoes – traditionally flat, black and polish-able. But school shoes not only need to answer to uniform rules – schools regularly send children home for breach of clothing policy – but they have to be comfortable, supportive enough to endure energetic break times and really well-made.

As any parent or carer will know, children’s feet never seem to stop growing, so what you buy now might not last you the year but they will hopefully fit for six months, at least. This means buckles, soles and insoles need to be durable. School shoes are going to be working as hard as their wearers.

It’s really important that children wear the correct shoe size – wearing shoes that are either too small or too big can lead to blisters and limping in the short term but potentially much bigger issues later in life. Most good shoe shops have a measuring service – or you can buy a home measuring device such as this one from Start-Rite.

While there are lots of vegan options about, many school shoes are made from leather. This means you’ll need to invest in some polish in order to keep them looking fresh.

There are plenty of options on the market – from sporty “rip tape” fastens to pretty Mary-Janes or preppy brogues – catering to pre-schoolers all the way up to GCSE students and beyond.

How we tested

We recruited a team of children aged between four and 12 to help us test: this consisted of wearing the shoes for at least a full day. We asked the children to walk and play in the shoes but stressed that they were not for playing sport in.

We wanted to see the promise of durability, comfort, simplicity to put on and take off (even without parents about) and style. It was also important that the shoes could be cleaned easily. We also took into account how many credentials each pair had in terms of orthopaedic health and we wanted to ensure that we included some brilliant bargains for lower budgets.

The best kids’ school shoes for 2023 are:

  • Best kids’ school shoes overall – Start-Rite impulsive II lace-ups: £60, Startriteshoes.com
  • Best classic kids’ school shoes – M&S leather lace up brogues: From £34, Marksandspencer.com
  • Best comfortable kids’ school shoes – Toe Zone gem vegan: £29, Toezone.co.uk
  • Best budget kids’ school shoes – Shoezone trux easy fasten: £12.99, Shoezone.com

Start-Rite impulsive II lace-ups

Start-Rite
  • Best: Overall
  • Size range: S12.5-L9
  • Colour: Black
  • Laces: Yes

These chunky, patent brogues are the perfect mix of fashion and function. The sole is thick and durable and there’s padding around there’s discreet ankle padding making them ideal for children who walk to school.

As you’d expect from Start-Rite, given its long-standing credentials as a children’s footwear go-to, these are made with comfort, health and growth in mind – and are available in a wide option to ensure growing feet aren’t squashed or restricted in any way. These are so cool we reckon parents might try to get in on the action (they go up to a size nine)!

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M&S leather lace up brogues

M&S
  • Best: Classic shoe
  • Size range: S13-L7
  • Colour: Black
  • Laces: Yes

Lace up brogues are always welcome in any school: they’re a classic, smart choice. This leather pair are ideal for older children for whom shoe laces are no problem.

These offer a sleek silhouette and are lightweight but inside, there is the brand’s special technology which works hard to offer support to busy feet (there’s also an antibacterial finish which helps keep pong at bay).

Our tester loved these – claiming they were “grown up shoes” which, when you are approaching secondary school is just the ticket.

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Toe Zone gem vegan

Toe Zone
  • Best: For comfort
  • Size range: S8-L3
  • Colour: Black
  • Laces: No

These shoes are built to last: a thick, robust sole that isn’t too rigid or in the least bit heavy. Inside, there’s a memory foam insole plus a padded section stretching around the ankle area which both speak to maximum comfort. No buckles or laces – a one touch strap instead – mean these are ideal for younger children.

Made from vegan leather, we found that the scuff situation was non-existent. Even after an unexpected foray to make a woodland den, these shoes emerged with barely a scratch. Oh, and they can be cleaned with nothing more than a quick wipe.

The reflective stars on the exterior heels are both decorative and an inspired safety feature. We think these are a great price.

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Shoezone trux easy fasten

Shoezone
  • Best: For low budgets
  • Size range: S8-L6
  • Colour: Black
  • Laces: No

These sub-£15 shoes will be music to anyone’s ears. We are pleased to report that despite the low price point the quality was decent with a soft, malleable insole for comfort, precise stitching and a sole which offers plenty of grip.

Our tester reported that these felt just like trainers, which will make them especially useful during playtimes! No polishing required – any dirt can be easily removed with a quick wipe down.

  1. £12 from Shoezone.com
Prices may vary
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Kickers tovni trip vegan

Kickers
  • Best: Vegan option
  • Size range: S13-L1
  • Colour: Black
  • Laces: No

These, from Kicker’s new vegan range manage to look both smart and cool – a school shoe that has all the comfort of a favourite sneaker.

The vegan and green credentials are impressive, while retaining all the features that have made Kicker’s such a trusted and iconic brand. The “leather” is Peta-approved and made from 75 per cent plant-based materials including a mix of corn and cereals, which are grown for non-food purposes and is completely GMO-free.

Our seven-year-old tester was thrilled with the three super-easy “hook and loop” fastens – not just because he could get dressed more quickly, but because the fit could be easily tailored providing serious comfort.

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Matalan coated leather trainers

Matalan
  • Best: For withstanding energetic playtimes
  • Size range: S10-L6
  • Colour: Black
  • Laces: No

With a thick, chunky sole, durable coated leather and reinforced toes, these trainers are ideal for kids who are always on the go – likely to be playing football at break times. The double rip tape fastening also means no time is wasted on faffing with laces and also makes feet feel secure and protected. At this price point, you won’t feel overly precious about them but we’d wager that they’ll last and last. Our tester felt comfortable in them but mentioned they felt stiff at first so we’d advise a thick pair of socks for the first couple of wears.

Unfortunately, it appears as though these were so popular that they’re currently out of stock. However, Matalan asks that those interested in purchasing this style should add their email to be alerted of a restock.

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The verdict: Kids' school shoes

Start-Rite is at the top of its game for a reason and these brogues show exactly why. Comfortable, smart, cool and can accommodate wide feet too, these are our top pick. Meanwhile, the tovni trips by Kickers are a great unisex choice thanks to their comfort, practicality and style.

Send them off each day with the best kids’ lunch boxes that will keep food fresh and secure

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