Teachers spend long hours on their feet, in corridors, classrooms and out on duty, so the shoe has to earn its place. This collection is comfortable shoes for teachers who need cushioning, a secure fit and a look that still satisfies a staff dress code.
Women, men and teaching assistants are all part of that brief. Schools write their own rules, so check yours before you buy, and bring it with you if you would like us to choose inside it.
Shoes for teachers female staff usually choose from are a supportive flat, a low heel, an ankle boot or a plain trainer, and only the last of those where the school allows it. Shoes for teachers male colleagues ask us for run to loafers, a softer oxford and, again, a dark trainer only if the dress code says so. Teaching assistants often spend more time on the floor with children, so a fastening that stays done up and an upper that wipes clean matter as much as cushioning. Playground duty and wet breaks are a separate question: ask which soles grip, and which pairs cope with a shower. We will not call a sole non-slip, or a shoe water-resistant, without looking at it.
Gabor is the cushioned women’s brand we fit most often here, with Josef Seibel, Pikolinos and Waldlaufer close behind, and our own Golden Boot shoes among them. Clarks covers many of the smarter men’s pairs. On Running and Hoka are the trainers to ask about when a school allows them. See the Gabor size and fit guide and the Clarks size and fit guide.
Your school decides that, not a shoe shop. Inside a typical staff code we fit cushioned flats, low heels, loafers and plain oxfords, in black and other dark colours more than anything else. Tell us how long you stand, and the surfaces you walk, from a polished hall to a playground.
Only where your school allows them. A sneaker and a trainer are the same request in our fitting room: a plain, dark, closed shoe with a proper fastening. Some codes accept that. Some still expect leather. If you are unsure, bring the policy and we will stay inside it.
A cushioned footbed, a secure heel and room for toes that swell by the last bell. Lists of the best teacher shoes date as soon as they are published, so a fitting beats a shortlist from a given year. Rotating two pairs is the other habit that helps. If you are searching for podiatrist recommended shoes for teachers, bring the written advice and we will look for a match, including a removable insole where the shoe allows one. A shoe may be more comfortable. It is not a treatment, and pain belongs with your podiatrist.
Start with the same dress code as the teaching staff, then think about kneeling, messy materials and long stretches on your feet. An adjustable fastening, a wipe-clean upper and a sole with decent grip are the practical points. Assistants are sometimes held to a stricter rule than class teachers, so check before you buy.
Call in at the shop on Gabriel’s Hill in Maidstone, ideally after a day of standing. Bring the dress code and the socks you teach in. You may also like our shoes for the office and ladies’ comfortable shoes.
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