We struck lucky with Dexter’s first year at school. His school hold an annual summer fayre where parents donate old uniform to be sold on to younger ones. We managed to pick up half a dozen barely worn logo’ed tees for less than £5 which lasted him the entirety of his first year. Like most parents, I also did a ton of research on school trousers and plumped for M&S’s slim fit school trousers (Dex is fairly skinny and short) and have been seriously impressed; They’ve held their shape, the hems are tough and his knees have kept their colour - definitely worth paying the extra for.

However, with the best will in the world, school shoes are likely to need replacing mid-term. Even if your child doesn’t outgrow them, they’re likely to become scuffed by means of football on concrete or months worth of scooting to school. With this in mind, here’s my pick of the best boys school shoes to suit every budget:

Short of pennies…?

Want them? (left to right - clockwise): TU@Sainsbury’s Online Exclusive Leather Boat Shoes from £18 / Next Narrow Fit Sporty Single Strap £28-£35 / TU@Sainsbury’s Online Exclusive Leather Velcro Shoes from £18 / Sports Direct Kangol Waltham Childs Shoes £18 / George@ASDA Boys School Moccasin 2 Strap School Shoes from £13 / Sports Direct Kangol Harrow Lace Up Shoes Childrens £13 / George@ASDA Boys School Leather 1 Strap School Shoes from £16 / Sports Direct Kangol Harrow Strapped Shoes Juniors £22

There are all sorts of reasons you might be more likely to opt for budget school shoes. Besides the fact that kids feet go through regular growth spurts, your child might also be prone to dragging their feet and ending up with wonky rubber soles. A drop foot brace might well work as a corrective measure, as will cushioned inner-soles if your child is “between sizes” or has one foot slightly bigger than the other (very common among growing kids). Thankfully, budget school shoes doesn’t necessarily mean poorer quality.

Supermarkets have some great budget options, and if you keep an eye out for promotions you might even be able to slash the price even further. Plump for chunky soles, and cushioned collars on the ankle for comfort and durability. Price-wise Next also straddle the budget/expensive divide, and boast some additional properties such as reflective detailing, memory foam collars, anti-scuff toe and slip-resistant durable soles.

The shocker on the list of budget shoe retailers however is definitely Sports Direct. If you can get past the shady ethics, you can pick up some serious bargains. I’m loving their current range of Kangol shoes starting from just £13. With double riptape options and subtle Kangol branding they fall comfortably into the cool bracket for older boys too. Order online (if you can), or call into your nearest store to check on their delivery times - Sports Direct can be a bit of a free-for-all so get in there early to avoid disappointment.

Got a little more to spend…?

Want them? (left to right - clockwise): Marks and Spencer Kids’ Leather School Shoes with Freshfeet & Insolia Flex £30-£34 / Clarks Obie Top GORE-TEX® Jnr £54 / Start-rite (“Will”) Black Leather Boys Riptape School Shoes £42.99 / Marks and Spencer Kids’ Leather School Shoes with Insolia Flex & Freshfeet Technology £30-£34 / Chatham Skipper Children’s Boat Shoe £45 / Clarks Mayes Trek BL £45 / Clarks Maris Fire Junior £44

It’s hard to beat Clarks for school shoes. Time after time they sneak awards for being well-made, true-to-size and long-lasting, whilst all the different width options mean your child will be super comfortable throughout the day. There’s fairly fierce rivalry between Clarks and Start-rite, with both offering a very similar fit, technology and quality. Breathable linings to absorb moisture & keep feet fresh, whilst soft and supple leather, and reinforced seams and soles means less visible wear.

Marks and Spencer have also enlisted the help of the UK College of Podiatrists to bring about some new technology to their school shoes range. Freshfeet™ technology keeps feet fresh by combating the bacteria that cause odours, whilst Insolia Flex® makes walking in flats more comfortable by insuring your child’s foot is correctly placed within their shoes.

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Finally, when deciding on school shoes for your child, make sure you consider all the little practicalities. Your five-year-old might want lace-ups, but do you have time to do them up every morning or every time they come undone? If your child bikes or scoots to school, you’ll also want anti-slip durable soles, and (preferably) anti-scuff toes. Treat shoes to good polish frequently to ensure they stay looking fresh, and your child looks the part all term long.