Best School Shoes – and Where to Buy Them!

New school footwear brand BLCK.B has been created by a team with decades of experience designing children’s shoes, bringing that expertise to a collection focused on comfort, fit and everyday durability.

The result is footwear designed around how children actually move, with flexible construction, cushioning and a considered fit.

• Flexible, cushioned designs for busy school days.
• Wide and half sizes offer more choice for different feet.
• Digital sizing support helps take the guesswork out of buying online, from BLCK.B’s partner SizeWise.
• Comfortable enough for the classroom and tough enough for the playground.
• Prices start at £55

This trusted and Junior Design Award winning brand offers a classic edited range ‘School by Bobux’ – that we love. Incorporating all the things you know and love about this specialist brand (including them being podiatrist approved) – but, making them school ready with new features designed to withstand the extra demands of a full-on school day.

• The extra durable, flexible rubber sole – designed for dynamic movement and increased grip
• Memory foam inner soles for comfort and shock absorbance – as well as removable left and right inner sole shoe identifiers which help little learner too.
• The absolute genius handy space on the strap for personal name labelling – which ensures the shoes your little one went to school in – are the ones they come home in! (see image above)
• Available in Sizes 27-33 EU / 9-1 UK.
• Prices start at £60.

Clarks is synonymous with quality craftsmanship and innovation and with nearly 200 years of experience, we’re pretty confident this heritage British shoemakers know a thing or two about style, fit and durability when it comes to school shoes for growing feet. Plus, getting your first school shoes from Clarks is a right of passage.

• Every shoe is tested to perfection. Over 60 tests ensure maximum durability and to ensure they are playground proof. Such tests include flexing leathers 500,000 times to pulling laces to destruction. Phew…
• They each have Agion-infused linings to help feet stay fresh for longer. The lightweight cushioning and flexible soles offer total comfort from drop-off to pick-up.
• Trained fitters offer in-store fittings by appointment or, you can measure at home with their online guide to using their shoe gauges.
• Available in sizes 10 – 2.5 UK (including half sizes and a choice of widths -E narrow, G wide and H extra wide).
• Prices start at £25.

For more than 50 years, Kickers shoes have outlasted the school run, playground adventures and everything in between. Few school shoes have quite the same instantly recognisable style – from the iconic Kick Hi to today’s smart and practical back-to-school collection.

Built around durability, quality craftsmanship and comfort, they’re designed to keep pace with busy school days while offering the kind of hard-wearing appeal parents can rely on. Over the years, the styles may have evolved, but that distinctive Kickers attitude remains firmly intact.

• Kickers schools shoes are scuff resistant – each shoe is designed with wear and tear zones using materials that handle all those daily scrapes and scuffs and keep shoes looking great all term and beyond. They also have anti-0dour active technology helps keep bacteria away for fresher feet all day long.
• Forget the worry of making an appointment, by simply ordering online with the easy-to-use measuring tool that help you find the right size in three simple steps.
• Kickers have teamed up with Reskinned. A platform dedicated to recycling used clothing and accessories with a mission to dress a better future through resale, repair and innovative recycling. The partnership runs all year round and allows you to trade in your old Kicks and receive a £15 credit, or send two pairs back and receive £25 off of your next pair bought exclusively online (Kickers recommend getting ready early and sending shoes back by 11th August, to guarantee your voucher use in time for the next school year.)
• Paper shoeboxes with 90% recycled material and natural soya ink that are also 100% recyclable.
• With 130 school styles available in sizes 20-39 EU / 5 small – 6 UK.
• Prices start at £30.

Marks & Spencer makes finding the right pair refreshingly straightforward. With more than 200 styles to choose from, there’s plenty of choice for everything from classroom days to playground adventures, including smart leather shoes, sandals and lightweight plimsolls for warmer weather.

Look out for clever details designed to make school shoes work harder, from scuff-resistant finishes that help them stay looking smarter for longer to cushioned designs and antibacterial Freshfeet™ technology for all-day freshness and comfort.

And, because getting the fit right is just as important as the style, M&S offers dedicated school shoe fitting zones in selected stores – there’s even the added convenience of Clarks school shoes available to shop at M&S.

So, while you’re ticking off the school uniform list, don’t overlook the footwear department – it could be the easiest stop of all. (Don’t forget new socks!)

• Marks & Spencer develop school shoes with growth room built in.
• Up-to-date innovations to make sure school shoes have a long school life, this includes rubber soles that won’t wear through, sports-grade underfoot padding that is resilient and comfortable shapes that flex with their feet. Plus the clever tech in the toe-bumper shoes ensure that the toes of the shoes won’t wear through for kids who drag their feet. (oh, why do they do that?)
• We love the built-in Freshfeet technology that eliminates odours, the breathable linings and sports-grade padding that wick away any sweat meaning fresh-smelling feet all term long.
• Available in sizes 23 – 41 EU / 8 Small – 9 UK and offered in standard, narrow and wide fittings and half sizes also.
• Prices start at £19.

If you haven’t checked out the impressive Kids section at Schuh – please do. It’s a one-stop shop for fashion, popular and own brand shoes collections on the high street. Offering the widest range of Dr. Martens, Kickers, Adidas, and Nike to name but a few all under one roof – ideal for families that have several kids/tweens/teens to please.

• The Schuh Recycling Scheme, ‘Too Big For Your Boots’ – encouraging parents and kids to bring down their old, worn shoes to be recycled, in return for £5 off their brand new pair. The £5 off vouchers are then redeemable online or in-store with their next purchase. (working with Recyclatex, which collects donations from stores which results in approximately 98% of all components and materials being reused). Click here for more information.
• In-store, experienced staff are on hand and trained to fit school shoes to meet all individual needs within 20 minutes. Or, for parents shopping online, handy tools are available – like the at-home measuring and fitting chart and step-by-step fit video.
• Next-day delivery within the UK on order placed before midnight (subject to availability) and an impressive 1 year to return policy.
• Available in Sizes 21-40 EU / 6 small – 8 UK.
• Prices start from £25.

When it comes to school shoes, getting the fit right is just as important as finding a style that can keep up. Start-Rite has been designing fitted footwear for children for generations, with a school collection that puts growing feet firmly first. From classic Mary Janes and T-bars to brogues and smart lace-ups, there’s plenty of choice for both primary and senior pupils.

• Flexible, lightweight and comfortable – they also offer flex grooves and non-marking soles.
• Cushioned footbeds, padded ankles and leather linings help keep feet comfortable throughout the day.
• Tough soles and enhanced grip are designed to handle playground adventures.
• Has a extension section on measuring for school shoes – check out their expert tips here
• Available in a range of width fittings, whole and half sizes, with growing room built in.
• Prices start at £40

When it comes to school shoes, durability matters – especially when the same pair is expected to survive everything from the morning school run to playground adventures. Junior Design Awards faves Young Soles is a name worth knowing, with a collection designed specifically around the needs of growing feet and busy school days.

The range includes classic T-bars, lace-ups and brogues, making it easy to find a style that works with different school uniforms. Each design is shaped on child-specific lasts to support natural movement, with flexible soles and comfortable interiors that are made for all-day wear.

• Practical thinking behind the details –  from cushioned insoles and grippy soles to easy-to-use buckles and hook-and-loop fastenings – particularly useful for younger children still mastering the art of getting ready independently.
• Made in Europe from leather and vegan alternatives.
• They use Sizewise to measure feet – see more info here.
• Sizes run from UK 4 to 7.5 (EU20–40) with a consistent fit that makes shopping simpler.
• Prices from £58

School shoes that look good, feel good and are thoughtfully designed around growing feet? That’s the thinking behind Junior Design Award-winning Zig + Star. With a modern approach to children’s footwear, the brand brings together comfort, durability and clever design, creating school shoes that are made to work with children as they grow – rather than simply seeing them through one term.

• Removable midsoles allow shoes to accommodate around half a size of growth, helping extend their lifespan.
• Designed to work for both wider and narrower feet, with adjustable features for a more individual fit.
• Easy-to-use details encourage children to become more independent.
• Comfortable designs and grippy soles are ready for school, play and everything in between.
• Uses child-safe, sustainable materials with a focus on longevity and circularity.
• Developed with growing feet in mind and independently endorsed by podiatrists and available from age two through to 12.
• Prices from £52