Our Team’s Top Petasil School Shoe Picks for Back to School 2026
If Start-Rite is the brand parents often come in asking for by name, Petasil is the one they tend to leave having discovered. It’s a quieter label, less heavily marketed than some , but among our team it’s held in genuinely high regard. Petasil shoes are built from quality leather, designed with serious attention to fit and foot health, and they have a classic, grown-up aesthetic that makes them particularly popular for older primary and secondary school children.
We asked our team to pick their favourite Petasil school shoes for this year. Here’s what they chose and why.
For girls
Petasil Andie — Girls’ School Shoe | £65
The Andie is the pick for girls who want a school shoe with a slightly contemporary edge. Its trainer-inspired silhouette and clean black leather upper give it a more modern feel than a traditional school shoe, while the five-eyelet lace-up fastening ensures a precise, secure fit that stays comfortable throughout the day.
What makes the Andie particularly practical is the discreet side zip, so shoes can be taken on and off quickly in the morning without having to fully re-tie the laces. A small thing, but parents of busy children will appreciate it. The soft leather lining keeps feet fresh and comfortable, and the durable man-made sole provides reliable grip from classroom to playground. A great choice for girls who want something that feels current without straying too far from the school shoe brief.
Petasil Mara — Girls’ School Shoe | £70
The Mara is a beautifully finished shoe, black patent leather with classic brogue detailing and it’s the one our team reaches for when a parent wants something genuinely smart. The patent finish gives it a polished, dressy quality that holds up well through a school term, and the brogue punching adds character without moving away from what most school uniform policies will accept.
Underneath the good looks, the Mara is built around real comfort credentials. The four-eyelet lace-up fastening gives a precise and adjustable fit, a supportive arch support footbed encourages natural foot positioning, and the leather lining with padded leather foot sock keeps feet comfortable throughout a long school day. The flexible non-slip sole rounds things off well. For parents looking for a shoe that looks as smart at the end of the week as it does at the start, the Mara consistently delivers.
For boys
The Marcus is one of those shoes that does exactly what it sets out to do and does it very well. It’s a classic black leather lace-up school shoe with a clean, traditional silhouette: the kind that works with any uniform and won’t date. What elevates it above the ordinary is the quality of the construction and the care Petasil puts into fit.
The premium leather upper and soft leather lining age well and keep feet comfortable and breathable over the course of a school day. The flexible durable sole offers the right balance of grip and movement, and the secure lace fastening allows for a supportive, adjustable fit that stays in place. Crucially, the Marcus is available in E, F and G width fittings — which makes a real difference for boys whose feet don’t fall neatly into a standard width. A dependable shoe for older boys who simply need something well-made and reliable.
Petasil Moses — Boys’ & Girls’ School Shoe | £70
The Moses is the most structured shoe in this selection, and it’s the one our team tends to recommend when support is a priority. Like the Mara, it’s built in classic brogue style from premium black leather, so it has the same smart, traditional look but the Moses takes things a step further internally, with padded heel, ankle and tongue, an arch support footbed and a shaped non-slip flexible sole all working together to give the foot proper structure throughout the day.
It’s a shoe well-suited to older children who are on their feet a lot, or who benefit from a little more support than a standard school shoe provides. The lace-up fastening gives a precise fit, and the leather lining keeps things comfortable and breathable. Because it comes in both boys’ and girls’ sizing, the Moses is also a great option for families looking for a consistent style across different children.
About Petasil
Petasil has been making children’s shoes for over 30 years, and it shows in the way the shoes are built. The brand puts genuine emphasis on fit and foot health, flexible soles, quality leather construction and careful attention to the natural shape of a child’s foot, which is why it sits comfortably alongside the other specialist children’s brands we stock at W.J. French & Son.
If you’d like advice on which Petasil style is right for your child, you’re very welcome to visit us in store in Southampton for a professional fitting, or browse the full range online.
Browse all Petasil school shoes → Browse all school shoes → Book a fitting appointment →
W.J. French & Son, 39–41 Bedford Place, Southampton. Independent family shoe retailers since 1803.
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