Preparing for a new academic year involves plenty of organisation, and ordering school exercise books is an important part of that process.
From deciding how many books each pupil will need to choosing the correct page counts, rulings and cover designs, there are several things worth considering before placing your order.
For School Business Managers, school administrators and teaching staff, planning ahead can make the ordering process much easier, helping to ensure that the right books are available when pupils return in September.
At The School Print Company, we work with primary schools, secondary schools, academies and Multi-Academy Trusts to produce bespoke school exercise books designed around their individual requirements.
Here are some useful points to consider when planning your next school exercise book order.
1. Review Your Current Exercise Book Requirements
A good starting point is to look at the exercise books your school currently uses.
Consider which subjects require the most books, whether pupils are running out of pages during the academic year and whether certain book specifications could be improved.
It is also worth reviewing the different requirements across year groups and departments.
For example, primary schools may need different handwriting rulings for younger pupils, while secondary schools often require a wider selection of subject-specific books.
Reviewing your existing stationery arrangements can help identify opportunities to improve consistency, reduce unnecessary variations and make future ordering easier.
2. Choose the Right Page Counts for Each Subject
Not every subject requires the same number of pages.
English and maths are often among the most frequently used exercise books, so many schools choose 80-page books to accommodate regular classwork, homework and assessments.
Other subjects, such as languages, Religious Education and some science classes, may require fewer pages, making 48-page or 64-page books a more practical option.
At The School Print Company, we produce exercise books in a range of page counts, including:
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32 pages
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48 pages
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64 pages
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80 pages
Choosing the right page count for each subject helps schools create a practical stationery range that reflects how books are actually used.
For more advice, read our guide to How Many Pages Should a School Exercise Book Have?.
3. Consider Subject-Specific Colours and Cover Designs
One of the simplest ways to improve organisation within a school is to introduce colour-coded exercise books.
Using different cover colours for individual subjects allows pupils and teachers to identify the correct book quickly.
For example, a school might choose blue for English, red for maths and green for science.
There are several options available when designing your school exercise books.
Traditional coloured card covers with black school logo printing remain a popular choice. Alternatively, full-colour printed covers allow schools to incorporate their logo, school colours, subject names and other branding elements.
For schools looking to create a more distinctive appearance, bespoke full-colour exercise books can provide a particularly attractive solution.
4. Think About Quality and Durability
School exercise books are handled every day, often travelling between classrooms, desks, school bags and home.
Choosing good-quality materials and finishes can help books maintain their appearance throughout the academic year.
One particularly popular option is gloss lamination.
Applied to the outside of the printed cover, gloss lamination provides additional protection against everyday wear and tear, helps prevent marking and makes the colours appear brighter.
It also gives the finished books a smart, professional appearance.
At The School Print Company, we believe the quality of an exercise book is just as important as its design. Our gloss laminated covers are a popular choice for schools looking for attractive, durable books.
5. Choose the Most Suitable Binding
Binding is another important consideration when planning your exercise book order.
Different styles offer different benefits depending on the intended use and number of pages.
Stapled exercise books
Our standard exercise books are produced using four strong staples rather than the two commonly found in many standard exercise books. This provides additional strength and helps keep the pages securely together.
Perfect bound exercise books
Perfect binding creates a neat square spine without staples. It is an excellent option for books with higher page counts and provides a more traditional book-like appearance.
Spiral bound exercise books
Spiral binding is particularly useful for books containing more pages, including Art books and specialist workbooks where easy page turning is important.
Choosing the right school exercise book binding helps ensure your exercise books are practical for their intended purpose.
6. Don't Forget Specialist Requirements
Some pupils benefit from exercise books that have been adapted to suit their individual learning requirements.
For example, tinted or coloured paper can be useful for pupils who experience visual stress or find standard white paper difficult to read.
We can produce books using a selection of coloured papers, while retaining the same external cover designs as the rest of the school's exercise book order.
Other options include bespoke rulings, wider line spacing, additional margins and customised internal layouts.
These small adjustments can help schools provide more inclusive learning resources without compromising the overall appearance and consistency of their exercise books.
Some pupils benefit from exercise books printed on coloured or tinted paper rather than standard white paper. These options can help pupils who experience visual stress or certain visual difficulties, making written work more comfortable to read. Schools can choose from a range of paper colours and suitable rulings while retaining their existing school exercise book cover designs.
7. Allow Time for Design, Proofing and Printing
If your school is ordering personalised exercise books, it is worth allowing sufficient time for the design and production process.
This is particularly important if you are introducing a new school logo, changing your subject colour scheme or creating a completely new set of exercise books.
Before printing begins, it is important to check that:
- The school logo and branding are correct.
- Subject names and cover colours are accurate.
- Page counts and rulings are suitable.
- Any bespoke internal printing is correct.
- Quantities are appropriate for each subject and year group.
Allowing time to review and approve the designs helps ensure everything is ready for production and delivery ahead of the new academic year.
We recommend contacting your printer well in advance, particularly when placing larger or more detailed school orders.
8. Make Your Next Exercise Book Order Work for Your School
Ordering school exercise books provides an opportunity to review what your school needs and consider whether your existing specifications are still appropriate.
By looking at page counts, rulings, cover designs, binding and specialist requirements together, you can create a consistent range of exercise books that works across your entire school.
At The School Print Company, we specialise in bespoke school exercise books for primary schools, secondary schools, academies and Multi-Academy Trusts.
Whether you require traditional coloured card covers, full-colour printed designs, gloss laminated finishes or completely bespoke exercise books, we can help you develop a solution that suits your school.
Our design team can work with your existing school logo or help incorporate new branding into your exercise book designs.
Start Planning Your School Exercise Book Order
If you are beginning to plan your exercise book requirements for the next academic year, we would be delighted to hear from you.
We can discuss your quantities, subject requirements, preferred specifications and design ideas, helping you create a complete range of personalised school exercise books.
Contact The School Print Company:
Email:
Office: 01702 464150
Mobile: 07722 238832
Visit our School Exercise Books page to discover more about our bespoke design and printing services.
