Best place for school shoes in Kent

If you are searching for the best place for school shoes in Kent, start with a measurement. Our fitters, on Gabriel’s Hill in Maidstone, measure both feet, fit the larger one, and run a back-to-school service so the first day of term is not the first time the shoes are worn.

The school shoes we fit most often are black, from Clarks, Start-Rite, Geox, Ricosta and others. Bring the school list and the socks or tights they will actually wear, and we will keep the choice inside those rules.

 

Choosing school shoes in Maidstone

What the fitting covers

  • Both feet, at every visit, because they are rarely the same length
  • The shoe set to the larger foot
  • About a fitter’s thumb of growing room on a lace-up or a strap
  • A closer fit on a slip-on, so the shoe stays on when they walk

Brands we fit for school

Clarks and Start-Rite lead the school shoes we see through the Maidstone shop, with Geox, Bobux, Primigi, Ricosta and the occasional Dr Martens. What is on the shelf changes with the term. Bring the uniform rule and we will say which of the pairs in front of you it actually allows.

Fitting tips from our fitters

  • Use the back-to-school service early. August in Maidstone is kinder than the Sunday before term, for the child and for the fitting.
  • School socks or school tights. Holiday trainer socks hide the size they will be on a Monday morning.
  • Walk the shop, including a stair if you can. The mirror only shows the standing still version of the shoe.
  • Ask us to soften a firm heel. Firmer leather gives with wear. We often ease the heel cup here, and you can come back if it is still stiff after a few walks.
  • A few evenings indoors. Summer sandals leave feet unused to a proper school shoe. Home comes before the playground.
  • Undo laces and buckles to take them off. Stamping the heel down is how fastenings fail by half term.

Clarks school shoes

Frequently asked questions

How does a school shoe fitting work?

We measure both feet, look at the school list, and try the style on the larger foot. On a lace or a strap we leave about a thumb of growing room. On a slip-on we fit closer, because too much spare length and the shoe slips off. You walk the shop before anyone decides.

Do families come from outside Maidstone?

Yes. The shop is in Maidstone, and we fit children from across Kent through the back-to-school weeks. Each child is measured separately. Siblings are often different sizes in ways a shared chart will miss.

Which brands should I ask for?

Clarks and Start-Rite are the names we fit most often for everyday school shoes, then Geox, Bobux, Primigi and Ricosta. Dr Martens is a smaller part of the selection, and only where the school allows that look. If you are unsure, bring the list rather than a brand in mind.

When should we come back?

If a firm heel is still uncomfortable after a few wears, come back and we will soften it. That is quite normal with firmer leather. Also come back when the thumb of room has disappeared, rather than waiting for toes to curl.

The shop is on Gabriel’s Hill in Maidstone. Our fitters will measure both feet and walk you through the back to school fit guide. For the move up a school, see school shoes for secondary school.

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