Back to School 2023: Large Size School Shoes for Teenage Girls
If you are busy getting everything organised for going back to school, having a daughter with big feet gives you a big school shoe shopping headache.
The good news is that there are several stores selling school shoes for teenage girls in large sizes, especially if you get creative & consider women's workwear styles too. There's plenty of choice up to women's size 9 uk, with options for size 10 & beyond too - right up to size 13 uk.
TIP: While this guide focuses on stores in the UK & Ireland where school uniforms are the norm, it includes some shoes from global brands (ASOS, Dr Martens, Clarks etc). Hopefully these school shoe suggestions are a helpful starting point for searching your local shops & websites too.
Clarks: good quality girls school shoes up to size 10 UK
Clarks are synonymous with school shoes. I still remember
getting measured for shoes with their foot gauge as a little girl. Their
school shoe range has several styles available up to size 9 UK in a variety of widths & a couple of unisex school shoes in size 10 uk.
TIP: the Clarks women's work shoes range also has several size 9 styles suitable for school too (in both standard and wide fit), although these do cost a bit more than the school shoes range.
Clarks offer free postal returns and a 28 day return period if your school shoes don't work out.
Clarks Loxham brogue school shoes
These Loxham patent school shoes have a padded collar around the opening for extra comfort & an antimicrobial lining to help them stay fresh. Clarks have made this style for a few years now & it gets good reviews. Parents say they last well & some even repeat purchase.
£52 at Clarks UK →ASOS: trendy teen school shoes up to size 13 UK
The ASOS DESIGN brand is a great source of affordable, fashionable shoes, sometimes right up to size 13 UK for women.
Asos flat, black shoes in size 9 UK or larger should appeal to teenage girls searching for fashionable school shoes to fit in with their friends.
Styles may not hang around long term on ASOS and large sizes can sell out quickly too. While I tried a mix of ASOS size 9s in 2021 and found them true to size, some reviews feel they run small. So maybe order 2 sizes if you're unsure, given the free returns and fast turnover.
Asos Design is a fast fashion brand, so if your daughter has sensitive feet or needs to do a lot of walking, I'd suggest other shoe brands more focused on walking and comfort instead. Consider Clarks, or perhaps Doc Martens if you have a higher budget & are up for breaking them in.
ASOS Majesty chunky loafers
ASOS are great for trendy chunky loafers that won't break the bank. Styles change quickly, so if these Majesty ones are sold out, here's all in-stock chunky loafers in size 9+.
£26 at ASOS UK →
ASOS Margo Mary Jane shoes
How pretty are these t-bar black patent mary janes? Too cool for school! :) If this Margo style is sold out, here's similar mary jane shoes in stock right now up to at least size 9.
£30 at ASOS UK →Dr Martens: top quality school shoes for teens up to size 13 uk
Doc Martens have been around forever & have always been popular with teenagers & college students, especially those with more indie tastes.
Now Dr Martens are quite expensive & an investment buy. But they are also durable, so if you're confident your teen's feet have done growing, they should last a long time.
Tip: Students aged 16+ can get a 10% Unidays discount and the Dr Martens site often has good deals on selected styles if you keep an eye out.
Heads up: the leather can be quite stiff initially, so Dr Marten shoes will take some wearing in & may not be the best choice for super sensitive feet (like mine!).
But nurses on their feet all day swear by them and, once they soften up, find they get years of comfortable wear out of their DMs.
Dr Martens Polley mary jane shoes go up to size 9 uk
Dr Martens women's styles go up to size 9 uk including these iconic Polley smooth leather mary janes. They go perfectly with a school uniform for a modern edgy look.
£139 at Dr Martens →
Unisex DMs: Adrian tassel loafers
Many Doc Marten styles are unisex and available up to size 13 UK. I particularly like these Adrian tassel loafers made in smooth, polished leather.
£149 at Dr Martens →Next: flat black shoes up to size 12 uk
Next do lots of size 9 women's shoes online, including fashionable black loafers and flats that make great teenage school shoes. Select styles come in wide fit, and for more cushioning, try their Forever Comfort range. Next also stock other shoe brands online which go up to size 10-12 uk, including Long Tall Sally, Yours & Evans.
With free fast delivery options, free returns to over 500 stores in the UK and Ireland, and cheap UK post and home collection return options, it's a handy option to have.
Next chunky tassel loafers
Part of Next's Forever Comfort range, these trendy chunky loafers have extra cushioning and padding for all day comfort.
£36 at Next →George at ASDA: budget black school shoes up to size 9 UK
Asda do plenty of women's size 9 flat black shoes, including black patent loafers & laced shoes, that make trendy school shoes for teens - at good prices too.
Asda patent loafers
These smart black patent loafers are bang on trend with their chunky lug sole. They still have a nice elegant look though, so they're not too big and chunky and should flatter big feet.
£16 at George at Asda →Shoe Zone: cheap girls school shoes up to size 9 uk
A kind reader wrote to let me know that Shoe Zone do flat black shoes in size 9 uk in their women's work range which work well as school shoes for teenage girls. They have over 300 stores around the UK and offer free online delivery & store returns (UK only). Well worth a look if you are on a tight budget or need school shoes ASAP. Their own Lilley brand includes some fashionable loafers, brogues and ballet flats.
Tip: If you're an Amazon Prime fan, there's now a Shoe Zone Lilley store on Amazon UK
Lilley patent bow loafers
I'm particularly taken with these cute loafers with bows on the front. They would make very pretty school shoes.
£14.99 at Shoezone →Zalando: flat black shoes in size 9+ uk
European online giant Zalando have a great range of black loafers, laced shoes & flats in size 9 uk, including some in wide fit. There's a wide selection of brands including their own exclusive labels like Anna Field and Even&Odd. They also stock premium brands like Doc Martens in size 10+.
Zalando offer free delivery and free 100 day returns (once you spend £35/€30). So you won't be out of pocket if the shoes don't fit and don't have to rush to send them back either. PS all UK taxes are included.
Anna Field chain loafers
The chunky gold chain & low platform heel give these smart slip-on shoes a modern look. Cool for school & so much more!
£36 at Zalando UK →Amazon: black school shoes up to size 10 UK (sometimes 11+)
It's a bit of a lucky dip but Amazon is also worth a look for school shoes in large sizes. If you stick to shoes sold/fulfilled by Amazon, returns are free. Plus, if you're an Amazon prime member in the UK or US (30 day free trial available), you can now also try before you buy with Prime Wardrobe. Pick up to 6 items to try on at home, and only pay for what you decide to keep. What a time to be alive!
Their affordable Amazon Essentials brand does shoes that could suit teenage girls for school including ballet flats up to size 12-13 uk (standard and wide fit) and chunky loafers up to size 11 uk (reviews suggest these run narrow).
Tip: Here's a direct link to all women's flat black size 9 shoes to save you time. I get best results on Amazon by filtering by shoe size first & browsing women's shoe categories rather than just using the search bar.
Heads up: Amazon sometimes lists the wrong shoe sizes. Amazon UK sometimes lists US brand shoe sizes as UK sizes, which means you end up with shoes 2 sizes too small. Or they list sizes brands don't even make e.g. Clarks size 10 uk women's shoes, even though they only go up to size 9.
Tips: Scan reviews before you order for sizing feedback. I also recommend sticking to shoes marked as "FREE Returns" on the product page (mainly those sold or dispatched by Amazon) for minimum hassle.
Being a teenage girl is hard enough these days without worrying about finding school shoes that fit. So I hope these shoe shopping options help. If you know of any other stores for size 9+ school shoes for teenage girls please contact me so I can add them to this list to help others. Thanks.