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Back to School: Buy school shoes online

The new school year is fast approaching so it's time to buy new school shoes. Here's how to do it and save a bit while you're at it.

Michael Bowley
Michael Bowley

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By now, you’re probably buying a bunch of back-to-school items. If you’ve already bought new backpacks, stationery and uniforms, the next item on the list is school shoes. The importance of a good pair of school shoes is obvious – after all children will spend over 30 hours a week wearing these shoes. Here a few tips and tricks to help you pick the perfect pair of shoes.

Shoe buying guide: tips and essentials

  • Don’t make the mistake of buying too big – choosing the right size might seem obvious but the truth is, picking the right fit is very difficult. If you choose a size that fits snugly now, they’ll be too small in just a couple of months. As a result many people buy shoes that are just way too big and this puts kids at risk of tripping, rolled ankles and back problems. There should be no more than a thumbs length of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoe – any more room than that and they’re too big. Remember to take into account room for socks.
  • It’s all about the heel – one of the most important things to look is that the heel of the foot sits firmly and securely in the back of the shoe. If your child’s heel is not sitting firmly in the back of the shoe, it means the shoes are either too big or just not supportive enough. This can lead to blisters and tripping in the short-term and more serious consequences in the long term. Make sure that the shoes you choose allow your child’s heel to sit securely at the very back of the shoe.
  • Choose the correct fit – each child is unique. Some children have slender feet with a curved arch while others have wide feet with a flatter arch. Parents should choose the correct fit to ensure that their child will be as comfortable as possible when they walk, run and join in with the school’s activities. If in doubt, take your child into a store to find out what kinds of shoes fit their foot before making any purchases.
  • Get your child’s opinion – the most important consideration in picking school shoes is to get the opinion of your child. Ask questions to make sure that the shoes don’t hurt his or her feet. Also keep in mind that to a degree your child should be comfortable with the style of the shoe in addition to the sizing.
  • Keep the school dress code in mind: conservative or liberal? – Some schools have a very strict attitude to school shoes and others are a little more liberal. You don’t want your child sent home with a note saying that their shoes aren’t suitable for school, especially if they’re brand new. Ask your child or call the school to find out if there are any rules to keep in mind when buying new shoes. If you’re unsure it’s always safer to err on the side of a more conservative shoe.

Shopping for school shoes

Here are some ideas for school shoes which can be found through on our featured retailers’ sites.

School shoes for girls:

Ladylike
Sturdy

School shoes for boys:

Traditional
Practical

Top retailers for school shoe needs

The retailers have some of the largest selections of shoes available. They also have great customer service teams, so should you have a question, they’ll be able to help you get the answer quickly.

Questions?

If you have any questions or specific product enquiries, we’d love to help you. Leave us a comment and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Deals and best back-to-school discounts

HP HP

Back to School Guide

Enjoy amazing sales on HPs top laptops, computers and accessories.

Last verified

Get deal
Microsoft Microsoft

Students save an additional 10% on $999 SP4 i5 SP4 i5 256 bundle

Includes Black Type cover (A $1,269 value)

Last verified

Get deal

Deal ends

Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble

Back-to-school bags and totes now $39.95

T&Cs apply

Last verified

Get deal

Deal ends

Topshop Topshop

10% student discount

Students enjoy a 10% discount. Just log in or register on the site to get your unique student code.

Last verified

Get deal

Popular US Back To School Deals coupon codes

Last checked Code description Code
26 Jun 2019 Back to School Guide ********
26 Jun 2019 Students save an additional 10% on $999 SP4 i5 SP4 i5 256 bundle ********
6 Mar 2019 Back-to-school bags and totes now $39.95 ********
26 Jun 2019 10% student discount ********
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