10 best kids’ school shoes to set them off on the right foot in September

These were probably the most comfortable shoes we got our mini testers to try. There’s a thick layer of memory foam in the inner sole, which moulds to the shape of the wearer and absorbs shock. There’s also a cushioned collar around the heel and a double rip-tape fastening, for total support. Our mini tester liked the subtle football detail around the sides of the shoe, whereas us adults liked the scuff-resistant toes that help the shoe last longer. We would have loved it if the ends of the rip-tape were anti-fray, too, but you can’t have it all. A small detail our testers also loved is the light reflective patch in the back. Is it going to save lives? Probably not, but it’s a nice detail all the same.

We were thoroughly impressed with these school shoes, which will set you back between £10 and £14, depending on the size chosen. The patent leather looked smart and appealing to our mini tester, and we found it hard-wearing – the thickness of the sole is good, and the shoes didn’t show up any scuffs during testing. The rip-tape fastening goes right across the foot, so you can get the exact tightness you want, and it’s easy for younger kids to do independently. We did find that there’s no cushioning around the heel, which makes them slightly less comfortable than others in this line-up, but, otherwise, we were impressed.

These school shoes ticked so many of our boxes. First up, our mini tester was very happy to wear them – they’re lightweight, so didn’t feel too different to trainers, yet still passed our school’s strict “no shoes that look like trainers” rule. They’re wide at the right part of the shoe around the toe-joint, allowing for easy movement. The cushioned footbeds and padded heel collars mean our tester was comfortable all day, too. As adults, we loved the reinforced rubber toes and Velcro straps, which meant they could endure everything our tester threw at them and still looked great. They’re also odour resistant, which can never be a bad thing.

With memory foam in the sole, these Hush Puppies shoes are incredibly comfortable and great at absorbing shocks. Did you know memory foam is used by NASA to absorb shocks on its spacecraft? Now you do. Anyway, we liked these for our narrow-footed mini tester, as the shoe shape seemed to suit them well. We were also pleased to see reinforced rip-tape fastenings that are going to last through the hours of carpet time and assemblies. There’s also a cushioned heel, and they’re extremely lightweight, making them a great choice for active kids.

Our fashion-forward mini tester favoured these shoes beyond any others. They’re pretty without being overly cutesy, and the chunky sole is both trendy and hard-wearing. There’s plenty of grip on the soles, too, thanks to a heavy, flexible tread, so, our tester could lark about in the playground without restriction. However, these shoes are pretty heavy, which took a little bit of getting used to. Our mini tester didn’t have an issue with this, but it’s a buckle rather than Velcro fastening, which might mean very young testers find putting them on independently a tricky task.

We have to admit, these Kickers got us sentimental for our 1990s school shoes – they even have the green and red tags on the side.

Our older tester loved these shoes. The chunky sole and patent leather matched their aesthetic, apparently. They also conceded the shoes are very comfortable. The removable inner sole is anti-shock and antibacterial, making them comfortable and hygienic. Despite looking quite robust, the shoe has enough flex in them to make them comfy, and there’s slight padding around the heel. These are lace-ups, so you’ve got to make sure your child is up to the test. Our Year-5 tester found them totally doable.

We were pleased to see these shoes offer three different width fittings. Take heed: our tester has standard F width feet, but found this style quite wide. However, we loved the brogue-style stitching on the shoes. As a bonus, our style-conscious Year-3 tester also loved them. The inner sole is soft and comfy, and has M&S’s own brand of antibacterial finish on them. Certainly, there were no stinky feet during testing. There’s also a collar padding at the heel. We found they had enough flex in the sole to allow for playtimes to be uninhabited, too. Meanwhile, the rip-tape fastening will make it easy for any kid to get these on and off again.

It’s hard to find fault with these Clarks school shoes. Our dinosaur-mad reception-aged tester loved the spikey heel (and these were admired by our Year-3 testers, too). There’s plenty of grip in the lightweight EVA sole, enabling kids to dash about the playground like mad things and have the shock absorbed. We liked the scuff-resistant zone on the toe, too. There are two easy-dressing rip-tape fastenings, which makes them ideal for all ages, and the cushioned heel and tongue are nice touches.

If you’ve got kids who destroy their footwear by 4pm on the first day of school, these Start-Rite shoes are a good bet. Yes, they’re expensive but they’re built to last. They easily had the most robust scuff zone on the toes, and had an anti-fray finish on the upper rip tape (although, none on the lower one). There’s a padded heel collar and tongue, for extra comfort, and a huge scuff-resistant zone on the heel. Despite all this, they feel pretty lightweight, enabling our tester to run and play freely. There’s a reflective strip on these shoes too, which our tester loved. Overall, we were impressed.

These shoes look stylish but they’re practical, too. For a start, they’re scuff-resistant, which is a must-have, if you ask us. The soles are also hard-wearing, which is great for any kids who like to literally drag their heels on the way to school. We really liked that this style comes in two width fittings – but they are already quite wide shoes, so keep that in mind. Our mini testers found the inner soles super comfortable, and they’re bacteria-resistant. We think these shoes offer fantastic value for money.