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The A-Z of back to school 2025 shopping
It’s that time of year again… From nursery and primary to secondary, sixth form and college, we’re here to help you plan your back to school 2025 shopping with handy lists and reminders covering everything you’ll need for the new term.
Keep an eye out for the latest sales, deals, discounts and offers from across Drake Circus stores here (plus, don’t forget to sign up for incredible rewards at Marks & Spencer, H&M, Waterstones and others); take some time out from shopping with brilliant kids’ menus and treats for everyone at The Barcode (including you) and find the best bag charms, books, uniform, shoes and school extras so you’ll be totally organised once school kicks off.
A is for accessories
Playful and fun bucket hats, glittery hairbands, pastel scrunchies in mint, lavender and pinks and neon beanies – this term adding your own personal TikTok-inspired touch to school uniforms is a huge trend for all ages (if your school allows!).
When it comes to oversized bows, cartoon hair clips, soft and stretchy hairbands and scrunchies, pick up multipacks so they can change up their look on a daily basis.
Claire’s, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Mango, Oliver Bonas, Next, Primark, New Look, River Island and Flying Tiger Copenhagen.
B is for bags, backpacks and bag charms
Thanks to everyone’s Labubu obsession, customized, colourful and quirky bag charms are having a moment and won’t break the back to school budget. Alphabet and personalised keyrings, fluffy pom-poms, retro and glitter accessories, Y2K cartoon characters including Stitch, Hello Kitty and My Melody and Jellycats are bringing the fun this new school term. (They’re functional too – making bags easy to spot on their pegs.)
Smiggle, The Entertainer, Mountain Warehouse, Mooch, Claire’s, Foot Locker, Footasylum, JD Sports, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Mango, Oliver Bonas, Next, Primark, New Look, River Island and Flying Tiger Copenhagen.
C is for coats and cosy buys
Warm, rain-resistant and hard-wearing – a good coat can make all the difference to the school run come January. For autumn, a lightweight rain jacket and school blazer are essential with puffas, fleece-lined duffle coats and peacoats great for winter. Don’t forget gloves (buy multipacks in the same colour for when they lose one), scarves and earmuffs too.
Mountain Warehouse, Foot Locker, Footasylum, JD Sports, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Mango, Next, Primark, New Look and River Island.
D is for deodorant and beauty bits
For tweens and teens, you need hard-wearing deodorant that won’t upset sensitive skin: Salt of the Earth, Sol De Janeiro, Bulldog, Fussy and Wild are all great.
For three-step cleansers, moisturisers and SPF (which dermatologists agree is all that teenage skin needs), go for gentle and trusted brands including Bubble, Byoma, Cerave, Cetaphil and Revolution Skin.
Next, Primark, Boots, Superdrug and Lush.
E is for eye tests and glasses
Free NHS sight tests are available for children under 16 and for young people under 19 in full-time education and the back to school run is the perfect time to go – you can also get optical vouchers to pay towards any glasses.
F is for fabric pens for name tags
The most useful buy of all: a fabric pen so you can write in the name of your child on their coats, PE kits, school tops, cardigan – basically anything they’re capable of losing on the first day back.
Flying Tiger Copenhagen and Mooch.
G is for grab some lunch
Do not attempt back to school shopping on an empty stomach. The Barcode is home to Brewdog, Cosy Club, Franco Manca, Las Iguanas, Marks & Spencer, Yo! and Zizzi and all have incredible kids’ menus. Or go for fast food treats at Burger King, Five Guys, Nando’s, Slim Chickens and Starbucks.
H is for hair
Invest in jumbo-sized shampoo, conditioner and shower gel to get you through the first term.
Next, Primark, Boots, Superdrug and Lush.
I is for imagination
For art, drama, school projects and beyond, make sure you’ve got the essentials at home with a big craft box of plenty of pens, paints, glue (a glue gun will transform your life), pipe cleaners and paper. Then you can pop in old birthday cards, egg boxes, cardboard, material, odds and ends which will come in useful all year round. You could chuck in a sewing kit too for missing buttons on shirts and cardigans.
Flying Tiger Copenhagen, The Entertainer, Mooch and Waterstones.
J is for Jellycat and toys for a back to school treats
We all need something to keep us going on the back to school run so offering bribes for patience and good behaviour is totally fair game… Lego sets, Sylvanian Families surprises, LOL Surprises and Hot Wheels all have brilliant finds for under £10 while a brand-new soft Jellycat is a real treat too (the new passionfruit is particularly cute).
Flying Tiger Copenhagen, The Entertainer, Mooch and Waterstones.
K is for keyrings and lanyards
Like bag charms, custom keyrings and lanyards to reflect your personality is going to be huge over the next academic year. Disney and Sanrio characters, lip glosses, sequin and primary-coloured finds are all brilliant ways to inject some fun into the every day or pick up a crafting set so they can make their own when you get home.
Smiggle, Oliver Bonas, Primark, Claire’s, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, The Entertainer, Mooch and Waterstones.
L is for lunch box
Obviously choosing a lunch box can come down to colour and characters but a good one should also be insulated to keep food cool, have plenty of compartments (or smaller boxes for carrots, cucumber and bread sticks) and be easy to clean (tip: double check they’re dishwasher friendly).
Smiggle, Oliver Bonas, Primark, Claire’s, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, The Entertainer, Mooch and Waterstones.
M is for maths set
Starting secondary school? They’ll need a maths set with a calculator, compass, protractor, set squares, pencil and pens, eraser and pencil sharpener. Time tables guides, highlighters, scissors, index cards, plastic dividers and Post-its are also really useful additions.
Smiggle, Oliver Bonas, Primark, Claire’s, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, The Entertainer, Mooch and Waterstones.
N is for notebooks, laptops, earphones and more
With more and more homework online, investing in the right tech could see them through school and into college. Many of the big stores also offer student discounts and trade-in deals too. Laptops and Chromebooks, memory sticks, headphones, basic phones, wireless speakers and portable chargers will all be useful!
Flying Tiger Copenhagen and Apple.
O is for offers and student discounts
There are lots of back to school offers and student discounts at Drake Circus and The Barcode, visit our offers page to see the latest deals. Also check your loyalty store cards and cashback offers via debit cards such as Monzo and Club Lloyds.
P is for PE kit
Black trainers, PE socks, black shorts or joggers and a handy bag are all sports essentials. Add to this list: swimming (googles, swimcap and swimming suits), football (boots and knee guards), tennis (rackets and balls), cross-country (good running shoes), basketball, netball, hockey and rounders.
Mountain Warehouse, Foot Locker, Footasylum, JD Sports, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Next, Primark, New Look and River Island.
Q is for queues (well skipping them)
Save yourself the stress of searching for multiple sizes with a crowd of other frazzled parents – make the most of Click & Collect by ordering what you need and simply pick up in store.
R is for reading books, stationery and diaries
Give them a head start with key stage guides to their subjects alongside fun reading books that’ll spark their passion for learning. They’ll also need a diary to keep on top of their time table and stationery for note-taking and journaling. For younger children, Marvel, Barbie, unicorn, Hello Kitty and glitter pens and notebooks are always popular.
Flying Tiger Copenhagen, The Entertainer, Mooch and Waterstones.
S is for shoe fittings and shoes
Whether you’re going for glittery, light-up primary-school trainers or teen and tween black leather lace-ups, brogues, creepers and T-bars, make sure you get the best fit for growing feet. Also don’t forget they’ll need trainers for their PE kit.
Schuh, Foot Locker, Footasylum and JD Sports.
T is for time out
Take a breather and enjoy a well-earned treat – from bubble teas to ice cream. Head to Bubble CiTea, Hotel Chocolat, Kaspa’s Desserts and Krispy Kreme as well as Cafe W in Waterstones. They can also let off steam at Boom Battle Bar, Cineworld, Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Spinners and Wild Things Play Project (check out @wildthingsplayprojectplymouth on Instagram for upcoming events and offers).
U is for uniform
What’s on the essential back to school uniform list? Five school tops (avoid midweek laundry crises – any fewer and there will be a last-minute washing emergency), two skirts or trousers, dresses, cardigan, jumper or fleece. And breathe…
Marks & Spencer, H&M, Next, Primark and New Look.
V is for vests and underwear
Once again buy extras of everything to make your life easier (10 x vests, pairs of socks and pants). When it comes to socks – try to avoid packs of different designs – get the same colour which can be easily paired once the washing is done.
Marks & Spencer, H&M, Next, Primark and New Look.
W is for water bottle
If you’re choosing a reusable plastic water bottle make sure it’s leak proof and BPA free. For stainless steel bottles for teens and tweens, Stanley and Chilly’s are always popular while Owala’s smart designs are currently taking over TikTok. Ones with lids attached also make life easier when you’re in a rush.
Smiggle, Oliver Bonas, Primark, Claire’s, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, The Entertainer, Mooch Foot Locker, Footasylum, JD Sports and Waterstones.
X is for extracurricular activities
Dance, cooking classes, drama and coding… Whatever their passion, make sure they have the necessary kit to go with it. Black leggings are great for dance and drama while bake-off fans will need plenty of storage boxes and ingredients. Plan those unexpected things now.
Smiggle, Oliver Bonas, Primark, Claire’s, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, The Entertainer, Mooch Foot Locker, Footasylum, JD Sports and Waterstones.
Y is for you (parents need a treat too)
You’re going to need some recovery time. Pick up bath soaks, books, delicious food and face masks while you’re out…
Waterstones, Rituals, Marks & Spencer, Next, Primark, Boots, Superdrug and Lush.
Z is for ZZZs
Cosy pyjamas, a snuggly onesie, soft sleep socks and a dressing gown. When they’re worn out for a full school week, this is the perfect way to get them to bed and give them comfort. Maybe stock up on hot chocolate sachets too…
Hotel Chocolat, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Next, Primark and New Look.
It’s easy to get to Drake Circus and The Barcode via car and public transport (find out more here) plus we have easy parking and family-friendly facilities.
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