A leading orthotist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, warns that children’s foot health could be compromised by school uniform requirements.
Fran Makey started a petition in June 2025 calling for schools around the country to review “every part of the uniform,” and question whether certain policies still hold validity in the modern day.
She explained that her goal with the petition is to create a change that allows children to wear “whatever is more beneficial or comfortable for the child,” rather than a blanket ban on traditional ‘smart’ style shoes.
The petition recently reached 3,000 signatures, with other orthotists at Sheffield Children’s Hospital getting involved in putting posters around their clinics, and sharing the petition with patients.
Ms Makey said: “I work with a lot of top consultants, every single one has been on board with this.”
Ms Makey said she wishes footwear companies should change their school shoe ranges to “reflect what children should actually be wearing”. She believes there are many less appropriate choices for girls shoes than boys, with the latter being more based on the features of a trainer.
“If manufacturers were on board too, it would make buying school footwear a lot easier for parents.”
She added that “research is lacking” , therefore she cannot directly prove smart school shoes “definitely damage [feet].” However, interactions with both patients and parents has revealed a “frustrating” pattern of shoe-related discomfort, which increases the risk of long term problems with pain.
“The problem is we’re dealing with growing feet here, so who knows what detriment it could have if they’re squashing their feet into really inappropriately tight or really flat, thin, shoes just to follow a policy to make them look smart.”
Elizabeth Salamaj, mother of two, said: “I don’t see why it’s necessary for my kids to be obliged to wear these shoes. When they were in primary they didn’t care so much, what is the difference now?”
Some schools around Sheffield, such as Birley Academy, have begun to relax their policies, allowing plain black polishable trainers such as Air Force Ones in addition to traditional smart shoes. However according to Ms Makey, others such as Mercia School, continue to be “very, very strict.”
Learn more about the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/allow-black-trainers-in-all-schools-for-foot-health