When it comes to school exercise books, the ruling inside is just as important as the cover design or size. The right page layout helps pupils stay organised, encourages neat handwriting, and supports their learning across all subjects. At The School Print Company, we understand that different stages of education require different approaches, which is why we offer a full range of standard and bespoke exercise book rulings, suitable for all key stages and subject areas.

Whether it’s perfectly aligned square grids for maths, wide handwriting lines for early years, or custom layouts tailored to your school’s curriculum - we’ve got it covered.

Standard Rulings for Everyday Learning

Our standard exercise book rulings are designed with functionality and clarity in mind, helping teachers maintain consistency across classes while supporting students in every subject.

Here are the most popular rulings we supply:

1. Square Rulings – Perfect for Maths

Square rulings are essential for mathematics, helping pupils align numbers properly and work through equations neatly. At The School Print Company, we supply various grid sizes to suit the age and ability of the learner—from larger 20mm squares for early key stages to smaller 5mm grids for more advanced work. The clarity of our square rulings supports confidence and precision in maths lessons.

2. Lined Rulings – Ideal for Most Subjects

Lined pages are the go-to choice for English, science, history, and many other subjects. We provide a wide selection of line spacings to suit different age groups. For example, 15mm or 10mm spacing is perfect for younger pupils still developing handwriting control, while 8mm or 7mm is better suited to older students with more confident penmanship in both english and maths.

Every lined book can also include a top margin for headings, dates, and titles—keeping work neat and organised.

3. Handwriting Rulings – Encouraging Neatness

Developing clear and legible handwriting is a key focus in early years and Key Stage 1. Our specialist handwriting rulings include a range of structured line formats to guide letter formation, spacing, and consistency. Many of these include three-line systems with dotted centre lines, which are particularly effective in helping pupils write within a defined space.

Whether you’re teaching cursive or print handwriting, our ruled pages offer the right structure for skill development.

Rulings for Every Age and Key Stage

No two pupils are the same—and neither are the stages of their learning journey. That’s why we offer differently spaced rulings for every key stage, from Early Years through to Key Stage 4. Younger pupils benefit from larger, more spaced-out lines and grids, whereas older students often require narrower rulings to accommodate more complex written work and annotations.

We’re happy to advise schools on which formats are best suited to their pupils’ age groups, abilities, and curriculum requirements.

Bespoke Rulings – Designed Just for You

Sometimes, off-the-shelf just won’t do. If your school has specific teaching methods, internal marking systems, or custom lesson formats, you might need an exercise book that reflects this. That’s where our bespoke ruling service comes in.

Here are just a few custom features we can include:

• Tick boxes for success criteria or task checklists

• Marking guides to aid self-assessment and teacher feedback

• Extra-wide or colour-coded margins

• Date and title lines at the top of each page

• Split ruling layouts (e.g., half blank, half lined) for subjects like science or RE

• Dual-language page setups for EAL learners

• Rulings on coloured paper – ideal for children with dyslexia or visual stress, designed to reduce glare and enhance readability

Whether you're supporting additional learning needs or simply want your materials to better match your teaching style, our bespoke service ensures your exercise books are perfectly suited to your classroom.

Specialist Books – Spelling, Reading & More

We also supply smaller-format books with specialist ruling for targeted learning tasks. These include:

Spelling Books

Designed with narrow lines and defined spaces to encourage correct letter formation and spelling practice. These books often include tick boxes or columns for word lists, definitions, and corrections.

Reading Records

A valuable tool for tracking reading progress, our reading record books feature structured ruling layouts for comments, book titles, page numbers, and parent/teacher notes. We can even add your school’s logo or a custom reading scheme layout.

These resources are perfect for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 learners and are designed to support literacy development in a structured, engaging way.

Premium Materials for Long-Lasting Results

We take pride in producing exercise books that look great, feel high quality, and withstand daily use. That’s why we only use the very best paper and card stocks in the production of our books.

Our inner pages are made from smooth, high-opacity paper that’s perfect for both pencil and pen use, reducing smudging and bleed-through. Covers are made from durable, coated card stock, available in a wide range of colours to suit your subject coding or school branding.

Protective Lamination Options

For schools that want to add a premium finish - or simply help their books stand up to wear and tear - we offer laminated school exercise book covers in both matte and gloss finishes.

• Matte lamination gives a soft, elegant look that reduces glare and adds a tactile quality.

• Gloss lamination offers a bright, vibrant finish that enhances colours and makes the books easier to wipe clean.

Lamination not only adds a professional feel but also protects the covers from water, scuffs, and everyday classroom use.

Built to Last – 4-Staple Binding

Unlike many standard exercise books that use just two staples, all of our books are finished with four staples on the spine. This provides additional strength and durability—ideal for exercise books that are handled every day throughout a full term or academic year.

Our books are rigorously tested for durability, ensuring that pages stay in place, covers remain intact, and the book retains its shape over time.

Why Choose The School Print Company?

At The School Print Company, we specialise in designing and producing high-quality printed materials tailored specifically to schools across the UK This will include your school logo design and branding. From exercise books to school prospectus brochures, folders, leaflets and more—we are passionate about helping schools make the best impression while supporting daily teaching needs.

When you choose us for your exercise book requirements, you benefit from:

• A wide selection of standard and bespoke ruling options

• Expert advice on age-appropriate formats and layouts

• Customisable cover designs with your logo and school branding

• Fast turnaround times and competitive pricing

• A friendly, knowledgeable team who understand the education sector

Get in Touch

Whether you're placing a new order or exploring custom options for the first time, we're here to help.

Let The School Print Company support your school with exercise books that are as effective as they are beautifully made.