BBy Bikram Nath·Researched from UK Amazon listings·Updated 2026-10-17·4 products compared
What are the best school shoes to buy in the UK?
Our top pick for School Shoes in the UK is the Kickers Unisex Kids Kick Lo Leather School Shoes.
The Kickers Unisex Kids Kick Lo Leather School Shoes suit pupils who want a leather lace-up with cushioned footbeds, padded heel collars and a flat heel, as the listing states.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This guide contains Amazon affiliate links, and we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you — but it never changes our rankings.
The Kickers Kick Lo is our top pick among school shoes because its listing states a leather upper, cushioned footbeds, padded heel collars, a flat heel, a lace-up closure and anti-odour technology, with BCI laces and leathers from Leather Working Group certified tanneries. For girls, the Walkright Collins Girls Black Patent School Shoe lists an easy fasten closure and a 2cm heel; for senior boys, the Clarks Scala Step Y lists leather uppers, a textile lining and a rubber sole.
This guide compares four pairs from Kickers, Clarks and Walkright, using what each listing states: upper, lining and sole materials, fastening and heel. Three of the four have leather uppers (the Kickers Kick Lo, Clarks Scala Step Y and Kickers Tovni Lacer), and the Walkright Collins is synthetic patent. For a trainer-style option, Kickers describes the Tovni Lacer low-top as casual and sporty but still school friendly.
Buying guide
What should you look for in School Shoes?
1Upper: leather on the Kickers Kick Lo (outer and inner material) and the Clarks Scala Step Y, matte leather on the Kickers Tovni Lacer, which Kickers says avoids heavily coated materials, and synthetic patent on the Walkright Collins.
2Fastening: the Walkright Collins has an easy fasten closure; the Kickers Kick Lo, Clarks Scala Step Y and Kickers Tovni Lacer are lace-ups, the Tovni with flat cotton laces.
3Sole: the Clarks Scala Step Y lists a rubber sole and the Kickers Tovni Lacer a low profile rubber outsole; the Kickers Kick Lo lists a manmade sole and the Walkright Collins a synthetic one.
4Heel: the Walkright Collins states a 2cm heel height, the Kickers Kick Lo a flat heel and the Kickers Tovni Lacer a flat sole. The Clarks Scala Step Y listing gives no heel height.
5Lining and comfort: the Clarks and Walkright listings state textile linings, and Walkright a textile insock; Kickers lists cushioned footbeds and padded heel collars on the Kick Lo. The Kickers Tovni Lacer listing does not describe its lining.
Our process
How do we choose our picks?
We don’t lab-test products ourselves. Instead we synthesise current Amazon UK listings and published specs into clear, honest recommendations. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, but that never changes which products we rank.
Current UK availability
We check each pick against live Amazon UK catalogue data rather than last year’s model lists. Stock moves fast, so a listing can sell out after we publish.
Published specs
We compare manufacturer specifications so each pick is right for a real budget and use-case.
UK-specific fit
We factor in UK voltage and plug/fitting standards — details that generic global lists miss.
The Kickers Unisex Kids Kick Lo Leather School Shoes suit pupils who want a leather lace-up with cushioned footbeds, padded heel collars and a flat heel, as the listing states.
Range
Unisex kids
Upper
Leather (outer and inner material)
Sole
Manmade
Fastening
Lace-up
Heel
Flat
Footbed
Cushioned footbeds and padded heel collars
Care
Wipe clean only
What we like
+Leather outer and inner material, per the listing
+Cushioned footbeds and padded heel collars
+Anti-odour technology that Kickers says keeps bacteria away
+BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) laces and leathers from Leather Working Group certified tanneries, per the listing
Worth noting
–Wipe clean only, and the listing says to dry it away from direct heat or light
–The listing states no warranty term or width fitting
£43.88£65.00−32%Amazon.co.uk price as of 17 Oct, 07:00 (London time). Details
The Clarks Scala Step Y Boys Senior School Shoes suit older boys who want a lace-up with leather uppers, a textile lining and a rubber sole, as the listing states.
Range
Boys senior
Upper
Leather
Lining
Textile
Sole
Rubber
Fastening
Lace up
What we like
+Leather uppers, per the listing
+Rubber sole
+Textile lining
Worth noting
–The listing states no heel height
–The listing states no warranty term or width fitting
–The listing describes no footbed or cushioning
£35.00Amazon.co.uk price as of 17 Oct, 07:00 (London time). Details
The Walkright Collins Girls Black Patent School Shoe suits girls who need an easy fasten school shoe with a 2cm heel and a textile lining, as the listing states.
Range
Girls
Upper
Synthetic (black patent)
Lining
Textile
Sole
Synthetic
Fastening
Easy Fasten
Heel
2cm
Insock
Textile
What we like
+Easy fasten closure, per the listing
+States a 2cm heel height
+Textile lining and insock
Worth noting
–Synthetic upper and synthetic sole, per the listing
–The listing states no warranty term or width fitting
£9.99Amazon.co.uk price as of 17 Oct, 07:00 (London time). Details
Kickers Youth Unisex Tovni Lacer Low-Top School Shoes
The Kickers Youth Unisex Tovni Lacer Low-Top School Shoes suit older pupils who want a trainer-style leather school shoe with flat cotton laces and a low profile rubber outsole, as the listing states.
Range
Youth unisex
Upper
Matte leather
Sole
Low profile rubber outsole
Fastening
Lace-up, flat cotton laces
Heel
Flat sole
Style
Low-top trainer
What we like
+Matte leather that Kickers says avoids heavily coated materials
+Low profile rubber outsole that Kickers describes as flexible and lightweight
+Discreet branding that Kickers calls school appropriate
Worth noting
–The listing does not describe the lining or footbed
–The listing states no warranty term or width fitting
£41.50£55.00−25%Amazon.co.uk price as of 17 Oct, 07:00 (London time). Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 17 Oct, 07:00 (London time) and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Editor's Note
None of the four listings states a warranty term or a width fitting, so these listings cannot tell you which pair suits wide feet. The two Kickers listings carry the fullest descriptions, including laces and leather sourcing on the Kick Lo; the Clarks and Walkright listings are short lists of materials, fastening and, for Walkright, heel height.
Our Take
As a default, the Kickers Kick Lo: leather, cushioned footbeds, padded heel collars and a flat heel, all on the listing. For girls who need an easy fasten shoe, the Walkright Collins lists a synthetic patent upper and a 2cm heel; for a trainer-style shoe, the Kickers Tovni Lacer lists matte leather and a low profile rubber outsole.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
What are the best school shoes for girls?
The Walkright Collins Girls Black Patent School Shoe is the girls' school shoe in this guide: its listing states a synthetic upper, a textile lining and insock, a synthetic sole, a 2cm heel and an easy fasten closure. The Kickers Kick Lo, our top pick, is listed as unisex kids, and the Kickers Tovni Lacer as youth unisex.
What shoes are okay for school?
The Kickers Tovni Lacer is described by Kickers as casual and sporty but still school friendly, with discreet branding it calls school appropriate. The Clarks Scala Step Y and Walkright Collins are titled as school shoes, and Kickers calls the Kick Lo a leather school shoe for the classroom and playground.
Are there trainer-style school shoes?
The Kickers Youth Unisex Tovni Lacer is a low-top trainer titled as a school shoe: its listing states matte leather, flat cotton laces and a low profile rubber outsole.
Which school shoes are leather?
The Kickers Kick Lo, Clarks Scala Step Y and Kickers Tovni Lacer list leather uppers, the Tovni in matte leather. The Walkright Collins Girls Black Patent School Shoe lists a synthetic upper.
Which school shoes have easy fastening?
The Walkright Collins Girls Black Patent School Shoe lists an easy fasten closure. The Kickers Kick Lo, Clarks Scala Step Y and Kickers Tovni Lacer are lace-ups.
Which school shoes are made to be durable?
Kickers is the brand in this guide that makes durability claims: the Kick Lo listing is headed "Built to last", and Kickers says it avoids heavily coated materials on the Tovni Lacer to maximise durability. The Clarks Scala Step Y and Walkright Collins listings make no durability claim, and none of the four states a warranty term.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. UKPicks earns a small commission from qualifying purchases made via links on this page. This does not affect our editorial recommendations or the price you pay.
