THESE SCHOOL SHOES ARE NOT UNIFORM, THEY ARE START-RITE

Few parents would willingly damage their child’s health, but many are unwittingly doing so by sending their child to school in inadequate footwear. Start-Rite is on a mission to help every parent understand the supporting role of footwear as their child develops during the school days. Here Val Barbour, Brand Training Manager at Start-Rite, explains why.

“A child wears their school shoes for at least 1,280 hours each year. The shoes inform how the body moves and develops and the wrong shoes can disrupt healthy growth patterns, potentially leading to physical challenges later in life. Given bones continue to develop right through to the age of 21, supporting that development throughout the school years is critical for a confident and comfortable future.

“As such, shoes are so much more than an item of school uniform; they are a piece of equipment that is fundamental to supporting the child’s development.

“Start-Rite school shoes are enablers. They protect developing cartilage, support joints, ligaments and tendons, reduce the risk of injury and enable healthy growth.”

There is nothing uniform about a Start-Rite school shoe. No one size fits all and each pair of feet has a set of requirements that the shoes should meet. Drawing out a range of different needs, here is a round-up of which Start-Rite school shoe styles are considered to be the ‘Best for’ a variety of needs.

Best school shoes for durability

For children who put their shoes to the ultimate test of daily destruction, Strike and Flourish are top-of-the-range primary styles. These robust styles are packed with the best Start-Rite intelligence, including biomechanical soles, reflective tabs, toe and heel bumpers, padded ankles, and dyed-through leather for extra scuff resistance. Parents can rest assured that in these styles, their children are receiving the very best all-around protection.

Best school shoes for unbeatable value at £45.00 

Luke and Origin primary styles are in a selection of highly popular, high quality premium styles that have dropped in price to just £45. These are top-quality pairs to withstand the rigours of the playground that support healthy physical development at an unbeatable price.  

Best school shoes on a budget - under £40

Learn and Classroom are part of the 'Simply by Start-Rite' limited collection of timeless styles from the Start-Rite archive. These pared-back pairs of tried and tested designs provide assurances of durability and comfort. Priced at just £36, the collection gives more families the opportunity to purchase quality-fitted footwear. 

Best school shoes for flat feet

Flat feet need protecting to avoid heel pain at the end of the school day. Isaac (also available in vegan) and Samba (also available in navy) have a slightly raised heel, elongated comfortable leather upper, and a padded ankle. These styles are a great option for secondary-age children with flat feet. For primary-age children with flat feet, Wish and Strike are good choices with their appealing designs.

Best school shoes for a high instep

A high instep can cause pain and in some cases damage to the foot structure if it’s not protected. Rocket and Poppy are the go-to fit for children with a high instep. With a notably deeper upper to secure the foot and a highly flexible sole unit, the shape is protective and comfortable, while the surround is durable and scuff-resistant. Parents can feel assured their child’s healthy development is being protected.

Best school shoes for active children

Active feet need innovative details for all-day comfort. Rhino Warrior and Imagine will hold up to even the most active child's day. Imagine has a chunky durable sole and stylish brogue punch detailing, the mesh linings help active feet to breathe naturally. Rhino Warrior comes in small 12 to large 9 and four-width fittings and now features a direct mould injection into the sole for maximum durability.

Best school shoes for wide feet

For children with wide feet, look for a G or an H width. These are the widest fittings in children’s school shoes, with H being extra wide. Rocket is fantastic for primary boys. These shoes offer all round protection and are superbly durable. For primary girls, Poppy in black leather or black patent with its T-bar design and adjustable fastening is stacked with Start-Rite intelligence, from biomechanical flex grooves in the sole to enable healthy movement for the age and stage of the child, to leather linings for breathability. For senior boys with wide feet go for Trooper and for senior girls, Samba which is available in navy and black.

Best school shoes for narrow feet

Engineer is a classic shaped, robust style with a narrow width option and adjustable rip-tape fastening that ensures all-round comfort. Matilda is a smart style inherently designed with a narrower profile, that provides secure comfort for a narrow foot. While narrow in shape, these shoes still provide the assurance of durable quality fitted footwear.

Best school shoes for secondary school

College and Impulsive are designed for older children taking a more mature approach to styling their school uniform. Suitable for many occasions, these shoes still promise Start-Rite intelligence, comfort, and durability throughout. 

Best school shoes that double for occasions

Looking for a flexible style that doubles as an excellent option for special occasions or evenings out? Then Academy and Brogue Pri (also available in vegan) fit the bill. This duo of formal lace-ups look sharp with any outfit. Academy is also perfect for boys not looking for a trainer style, who still require the intelligent biomechanics. For younger children starting school, Dazzle is an ideal cross-over style. A T-bar with a soft leather upper with embroidery and patent toe cap for extra protection, it’s perfect for special occasions and all-day comfort.

Best vegan school shoes

Impact vegan and Engineer vegan are both crafted with a black vegan synthetic material, a breathable and durable non-leather alternative for school shoes. These styles will stand the test of the school day and protect your children's feet, with a guarantee of comfort throughout.

Best school shoes for children with additional needs

Rocket and Spirit are two styles with adjustable, strong, resilience-tested rip-tape fastenings, enhanced toe and heel bumpers, dyed-through leather for scuff-resistant colour, and a comfortable sole unit so children can be independent, confident, and comfortable all day long. Both styles come in a large size run and appealing designs for children with super imaginations and the added benefit of Rocket’s glow-in-the-dark features adds a touch of safety in the darker months, and a sense of fun to this sturdy and durable children’s shoe.

For more information and to shop, visit Start-Rite here.

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Editors notes

Heritage British children's footwear company.