How long would you expect a pair of £35 Clarks school shoes to last?

[Ruby]

I used to expect a whole school year out of a pair of Clarks. I usually got it but the kids used to look like Victorian urchins from the ankles down by the last half of the summer term

That's the look we're rocking here too. Last year, by the middle of June, I was superglueing the velcro back onto the strap every week. My chaps will need therapy for sure when they're older.

[Cat]

Quick question to those whose shoes have lasted all year.. how do you stop their feet growing? DS1 has gone up a size and a half since september.

[Faith]

I think I've heard in the past that if they do an exchange, it can only be for the same size, so if the child's feet have changed in the meantime, they won't honour the exchange against a larger size, because if a larger size was needed, they'd need new shoes anyway, regardless of whether the old ones were worn or not. Can't remember where I heard that but it was somewhere.

I got a full refund, so no size issue. She had gone up a size, but they didn't even ask that, just refunded no questions.

Anyway with Clarks being fitted, they should last at least 6-8 weeks as they're fitted to allow for growth. Any less and I'd complain the fitting was faulty.

[January]

Quick question to those whose shoes have lasted all year.. how do you stop their feet growing? DS1 has gone up a size and a half since september.

It's a while back now and it must have gone tits up occasionally but on the whole they conveniently saved the growth spurts for the summer holidays.

I did have to buy ds2 a pair with about a term to go once and opted for cheapies and hope but he had the sole off within a few weeks so zero saving

[Ruby]

but on the whole they conveniently saved the growth spurts for the summer holidays.

Same here. I usually have them measured again around now for some summer shoes or trainers and they're almost exactly the same. I am a terrible mother and wouldn't buy a new pair of shoes this close to the end of term for the sake of half a size, unless their feet were obviously screwed up or something.

[all that glitters!]

Def take them back. Unacceptable!

[Monkey Chops]

Jack's Clarks shoes are still near enough perfect from last August but the little sod grew a whole size at Easter so I had to buy new shoes. He better not grow again by August.

[Velvet Chain]

Another one that has a ds who grows in the summer. His current shoes are an adult size 5 (he is 9 in a few weeks) and I can 100% guarantee that by September he will need a 6, I checked his shoes this morning and the space at the end is definitely smaller than it was......