The ultimate back-to-school checklist

Back-to-school season always seems to sneak up quickly! One minute it’s summer holidays, the next you’re hunting for their essentials. Whether you’re shopping early or doing a last-minute trolley dash, our back-to-school checklist is here to make the prep a little easier. Think classroom essentials, comfy boys school clothes or girls uniform staples, and all the extras they’ll need for the term ahead. Consider this your stress-free guide to getting them school ready.

School dressing

Make sure they have plenty of school uniform to see them through the week (and weekly wash loads).

Shop their school uniform exclusively online or on our app via our Click & Collect service. Use the app to streamline your shopping experience by saving your favourites, placing Click & Collect orders on the go and receiving personalised notifications, so you never miss out on Primark must-haves. Download from the App Store or Google Play Store now.

Shirts

From polo shirts to smarter button-down styles, school shirts are an everyday staple whatever the weather.

Jumpers

To keep them warm during the cooler seasons or morning commutes, be sure to pick up one of our school jumper multipacks. Don’t forget those name labels!

Shoes

From ballet flats to trainer styles, we’ve got a stylish selection of school shoes to protect those tiny toes throughout the term. Now for the tough decision: self-fastening, lace-up or slip-on?

Dresses

New term, new school looks! While they’re our pleated pinafores and gingham school dresses, it’s your little fashionista that brings the style!

Skirts

Today’s lesson: great value! Available in packs of two, our pleated school skirts are sure to refresh their uniform rotation.

Trousers

Complete their back-to-school looks with our range of smart, stylish and super affordable school trousers. Available in grey, navy and black.

Coats

Keep the wind and rain at bay with our range of kids coats and jackets, perfect for the walk to and from school or those game-filled breaktimes on the playground.

Active days sorted

Got a little one bursting with energy? Thank goodness for physical education lessons! To ensure they have their P.E. kit bag filled with activewear essentials, keep scrolling for our checklist!

P.E bags

Let them take their pick between girls school backpacks and drawstring school bags for boys (available in printed and plain designs) to transport their sports clothes from home to hall in style.

Trainers

Their love-affair with sports starts at school, so make sure they’re set from their first lesson with a pair of trainers suitable for P.E lessons.

Shorts

Whatever the dress code, we’ve got kids school shorts multipacks ready to tackle any team game!

Socks

From classic white and black sock styles to patterned ankle, ‘footsie’ and longer options, socks are a must-have to keep their feet fresh!

Water bottle

Keeping hydrated is vital not just during P.E lessons but throughout the day too! Encourage them to a healthy water intake with our array of kids water bottles, from Marvel to Hello Kitty.

Back-to-school supplies & stationery

There’s no denying that the smell of new notebooks and the sight of freshly sharpened pencils, fuels them with excitement to ace the school year. Here’s our definitive list of stationery essentials to fill their backpacks with!

Pencil case

Deck out their desk with our practical pencil cases. They’re spoilt for choice with our character designs for boys and girls, as well as our multi-compartment styles for the young creatives.

Notebooks

Be it spelling tests or times tables practice, track their progress with our range of notebooks and planners. 

Pens

Take our word for it, they’ll go through these F-A-S-T. From black and blue pen multipacks to assorted ballpoint sets, we've got them covered all year round.

Pencils & crayons

Help them brighten up their schoolwork with our range of colouring pencils and pens. Whether they're drafting work or doodling, these are the back-to-school basics they’ll want on hand!

Pencil sharpener

Got the pencils? Now don’t forget a pencil sharper to keep them fresh.

Highlighters

Make notetaking aesthetically pleasing with highlighters that’ll jazz up their study time.

Eraser

Thanks to our vibrant school rubbers and fun-shaped erasers, no mistake is too drastic. Which one will they choose?

Ruler

The true measure of stationery success? A well-stocked pencil case! Whether drawing straight lines or measuring shapes, make sure your little one has a school ruler ready for every lesson.

School bags & backpacks

Guarantee that your little one carries their school staples in style this term with one of our kids school bags. From their favourite characters and colours to their go-to prints and patterns, head in-store to snap up a bag they can't wait to pack and put on their cloakroom peg! Handy design details like our netted side pockets and front zip compartments make it easy to access their everyday school supplies. 

Lunchbox

Avoid squashed fruit and leftover crumbs at the bottom of their school bag with our selection our selection of kids lunch bags and lunch boxes, designed to seamlessly carry their favourite foods and snacks from kitchen to canteen.

After-school club essentials

Our school checklist isn’t just reserved for classroom hours, their after-school club packing or down-time prep is just as important as their school day staples!

Tracksuits and co-ords

Getting your little one out of their school uniform and into a fresher outfit after a long day, is a must. Add one of our varsity-inspired tracksuits to your basket and style as needed, whatever the season. Choose from an assortment of vibrant colours and prints, making it easy to spot them at the school gate!

Jeans

Certified year-round staple, denim jeans and cargo trousers offer limitless outfit possibilities. After-school playdates with their classmates? Check! Weekend family activities? Check!

Hoodies and jumpers

Versatile and super stylish, our selection of kids hoodies and sweatshirts are sure to help them earn extra style points. Pick between crew-neck jumpers and zip-up hoodies with plenty of playful prints and slogans.

Jackets

Although the weather forecast is out of our hands, prepping your little one for every eventuality is top of our to-do list! Let them express themselves with one of our school jackets, including hooded puffer jackets, gilets, raincoats and on-trend varsity jackets.

Tips for back-to-school shopping

Getting ready for a new school year is much easier with a little planning. Before you start shopping, keep these simple tips in mind to save time, stay organised and make sure you have all the essentials covered.

• Start with what they already have: check last year's clothing and stationery before buying replacements.

• Make a checklist: break your shopping into categories like clothes, school supplies, bags and lunch essentials.

• Prioritise the basics: focus on everyday essentials before picking up extras. 

• Size up where you can: choosing slightly bigger jumpers, coats or shoes can help them last longer.

• Stock up on stationery: multipacks of pens, pencils, highlighters and notebooks are always handy to have.

• Don't forget the little things: lunchboxes, water bottles, name labels, hair accessories and tissues can be easy to overlook.

• Shop ahead of time: beat the back-to-school rush by shopping early, giving yourself plenty of time to find the right sizes and tick everything off your list.

Care tips to make school clothes last longer

A little extra care can help their clothing last longer, through busy school days, playground spills and weekly washes.

• Check the care labels: always follow the washing instructions to help protect the fabric, colour and fit.

• Wash inside out: turning shirts, jumpers, trousers and skirts inside out can help reduce fading and everyday wear.

• Use a cooler wash: lower temperatures are gentler on fabrics and can help prevent shrinking.

• Treat stains quickly: tackle marks from lunch, grass or paint early to stop them from setting into the fabric.

• Avoid overloading the washing machine: giving clothes enough space will help them wash properly and reduce creasing.

• Air dry where possible: tumble drying can shrink or wear out fabrics faster, so hang items up to dry when you can.

• Rotate uniform pieces: having a few shirts, socks or trousers in rotation helps prevent the same items wearing out too quickly.

• Store properly: hang coats and jumpers neatly to help them keep their shape between wears.