The school holidays are almost over and now it’s time to think of all those things parents need to stock up on before their children return to the classroom – the uniforms, sportswear, and bags, and the rest. It can be a lot - and it can be expensive - so we’ve prepared a guide to some of the best shops in the city to get everything they’re going to need!
School Clothes
Marks & Spencer – Northumberland Street
M&S is a high street institution and a great place to stock up on everything from shirts and blouses to underwear and smart footwear. There’s always a range of offers in place and at the moment kids can eat for free if the adult spends £5 or more.
Next – Blackett Bridge, Eldon Square
Next is another quality high street store but a lot of people don’t realise they’re a great outlet for school uniforms and other school basics, often at budget prices. From multi-pack blouses, shirts and skirts through to a range of waterproof coats and sportswear, Next have you covered. And right now, they have a co-promotion with Clarks to provide a range of smart and sturdy school shoes.
Primark – Northumberland Street
Head to the second floor of Primark to find a massive range of kids clothes and accessories, with lots of back-to-school basics. They’re especially good for younger kids or more casual school clothes, and also stock essentials from backpacks to tracksuits.
Argos – St George’s Way, Eldon Square
Argos are especially good at this time of year – they have a school uniform section with a great range of trousers, jumpers, skirts and shirts, as well as plenty of PE kit, warm winter coats and school shoes.
John Lewis – Eldon Square
As you’d expect from John Lewis, they bring the same attention to detail and quality to their back-to-school offerings as anything else, stocking everything you might need from uniforms to stationery and all points in between, as well as a handy checklist on their website. And perhaps most useful of all, a school shoe fitting service from fully-trained staff.
Shoes
Clarks - Hotspur Way, Eldon Square
Something about Clarks spells ‘back to school’ – the trip every August to get fitted for a new pair of smart shoes is a great way to kick off the new school year. As well as a large range of school shoes and boots – and all sorts of sports styles too – you can depend on the Clarks fitting service and plenty of great advice instore
Charles Clinkard – Percy Street, Eldon Square
Charles Clinkard started almost exactly a century ago in the north-east and have built up an enviable reputation as a quality shoe store. Their back-to-school selection includes major brands like Start Rite, Geox and – of course, Clarks – and they also offer a fitting service.
Office – Eldon Square
While Office does stock kids shoes – including some that are perfectly appropriate for school – it might in fact be an ideal destination for teachers! With styles and brands to suit every taste and pocket, and right now a very tempting sale, teachers can get themselves ready for all that classroom pacing.
Skechers – Blackett Bridge, Eldon Square
While Skechers isn’t really the destination for smart school shoes, it more than makes up for it with a wide range of sports and athletic trainers, casual sneakers and plenty of cool accessories like hats, bags and socks.
Accessories
WHSmith – Northumberland Street
Kids like to start the new school year with a shiny new geometry kit and a nice thick A4 pad, and that’s the kind of thing WHSmith has in spades. From stationery to maths sets, folders to biros, all your classroom essentials can be found here.
The Works - Eldon Way, Eldon Square
As well as stocking lots of stationery and other school basics, The Works really comes into its own for art and craft supplies: everything your child needs to draw, paint, stick and mount! And right now there’s a half-price sale on many art supplies.
Typo – Percy Street, Eldon Square
Aimed at older schoolchildren with a sense of style, Typo is an Aladdin’s cave of cool and colourful accessories: stationery, art supplies, notebooks, pencil cases, bags and more in vivid designs and – with various current sales – at sensible prices.
Wilko – Nun Street
Wilko is a great choice for all sorts of back-to-school stationery necessities, from biros to notepads to craft glue, and at the moment there’s a half-price sale on hundreds of stationery items, which makes even more sense for your wallet.
Poundland – St George’s Way / Clayton Street
Another high street institution that you might be surprised to learn really delivers in terms of stationery and arts and craft supplies to get your kids ready for the new term. There are hundreds of items from some big names at bargain prices.
Going back to school can be exciting for the kids but stressful for the parents – have they got everything?! – but hopefully this guide to the best places to get stocked up will make things a little bit easier.
