Back to School

Content Guide

• When do kids go back to school?
• When do Back to School sales start?
• How to save
• Back to School deals

When do kids go back to school?

There isn't a single "Back to School day" in the UK. Term dates vary slightly by nation and even by Local Authority, so the return to school is really a window spanning late July to early September rather than one fixed date — which is exactly why sales for Back to School stretch across several weeks rather than a single weekend. Here's how that window breaks down by age:

• Primary and secondary school: the summer break typically runs from late July to early September, with most pupils returning in the first week of September.
• Sixth form and college (16–18): term dates generally line up with secondary schools, but bring an added layer of cost — new textbooks, specific equipment for A-Level or BTEC courses, and often a student's first "proper" laptop.
• University: Freshers' typically falls a few weeks later, usually towards the end of September. This creates a second, distinct Back to School wave with its own shopping list — room essentials, electronics and everyday kit, rather than uniform.
• October half term: easy to overlook, but increasingly used by retailers for a second round of Back to School sale on anything families didn't get around to buying in August — worth keeping an eye on if a purchase isn't urgent.

When do Back to School sales start?

Because term dates vary across the UK, so do the sale windows — but a broadly consistent pattern repeats every year:

1. Early summer: the first Back to School uniforms discounts appear at supermarkets, often as one-off seasonal events.
2. Midsummer: the busiest stretch for offers — general Back to School clothes sales that include uniform, alongside the first technology deals.
3. Late summer, ahead of the September return: the most intense window for shoes, bags and tech, as families finalise their lists.
4. Just before term starts: last-minute reductions as retailers clear remaining stock.
5. Late September: a distinct Freshers' wave of offers for students starting or returning to university.
6. October half term: a smaller, secondary wave of deals — a good moment to pick up anything that wasn't urgent in August.

How to save on Back to School shopping

• Shop in waves, not all at once. Uniform sales tend to start in early summer and continue in phases through the following weeks — there's rarely a need to buy everything in one go.
• Compare supermarket vs specialist uniform. For basics — polo shirts, trousers, skirts — supermarket ranges usually beat specialist uniform shops on price, especially during their seasonal bundle deals. Save your "brand" budget for shoes and technical items.
• Buy a size up. Many families buy uniforms a size larger during sale periods so it lasts the whole school year, rather than replacing it mid-term.
• Use student discounts where they apply. Anyone moving into sixth form, college or university can usually access dedicated student discount codes on technology, clothing and room essentials.
• Follow tech brands for dedicated windows. Laptop and accessory manufacturers regularly run Back to School offers timed to the return to school or the start of university, often bundling in accessories or cashback.
• Stack cashback and loyalty points with a discount code. Combining a voucher with a cashback portal or a retailer's own loyalty scheme increases the real saving on top of any advertised discount.
• Don't rule out second-hand. School uniform swaps and second-hand sales remain one of the most effective ways to save, especially for items children only wear for a single size or season.
• Keep half term in mind. Some categories — technology and winter coats especially — come back into sale around the October half term, so if a purchase isn't urgent, it's often worth waiting.

Keep an eye on these Back to School deals

Back to School uniform offers

The most searched-for and most recurring expense: shirts, trousers, skirts, cardigans, blazers and outerwear.

• Supermarkets remain the go-to option for everyday basics — the Tesco Back to School uniform range and the Asda Back to School shop are two of the most visited pages online every summer.
• For families who want something a step up in quality — smarter blazers, more durable trousers, better-finished knitwear — M&S Back to School ranges are consistently the most trusted option, often cited as the benchmark for uniform quality and fit.
• Next and Primark round out the category for families who prefer a more fashion-led take on basics.

Back to School shoes

Formal school shoes and everyday or PE trainers are searched almost as often as clothing, and this is the category where families are most willing to pay for a trusted, durable brand rather than trade down.

• Clarks and Kickers dominate the formal school shoe segment, prized for fit and durability through a full school year.
• For PE kit and everyday wear, the JD Back to School range is one of the most visited destinations for trainers, alongside Sports Direct Back to School for value-driven multi-pack deals.
• The Footasylum Back to School sale is another key seasonal event in this space, typically bundling trainers with accessories at a discount.
• Shoppers frequently compare prices directly against adidas Back to School collections and Nike ranges before buying.
• Schuh remains a strong option for families who want a wider fit range for growing feet.

Back to School laptop deals

A fast-growing category, driven by more schools and universities expecting students to have their own device for coursework, and by parents wanting to get ahead of the cost before term starts.

• The Apple Back to School promotion is by far the most searched-for tech offer of the season, typically bundling a discount or a free accessory with a new Mac or iPad — a genuinely popular reason many families time a tech purchase specifically around this period rather than buying earlier in the year.
• Microsoft Surface devices, along with ASUS, Dell and Samsung laptops sold through Currys, cover the more budget-conscious end of the same need.
• OnePlus and Logitech accessories (mice, keyboards, headsets) tend to see a smaller but steady rise in searches as students prepare for lecture-heavy timetables.

Back to School backpacks

Consistently in demand, especially personalised options for younger children and more grown-up, durable designs for teenagers and students.

• John Lewis Back to School is a particularly strong destination for this category, known for a wide range spanning younger-kids' licensed designs through to more sophisticated backpacks aimed at secondary school and university-age shoppers.
• Kipling and Eastpak remain the reference brands for lightweight, long-lasting daily bags.
• Regatta covers outdoor and all-weather options.
• Argos is frequently used for quick, affordable bundle deals on bag-and-lunchbox sets.

Back to School essentials for university

The second wave of Back to School: room essentials, small electronics, kitchen basics and casual wardrobe items for students starting or returning to university.

• Dunelm and IKEA cover the bulk of room set-up (bedding, storage, small furniture).
• Currys and Amazon handle the electronics students need for a shared kitchen or a first laptop upgrade.
• ASOS, SHEIN and Get The Label are the go-to names for a fast, budget-friendly wardrobe refresh before term starts.
• Freshers' isn't only a shopping event: plenty of software and productivity tools run their own back-to-school promotions aimed at new students, and a HubSpot Back to School offer on marketing or business courses is a good example of the kind of "hidden" discount worth checking for alongside the more obvious retail deals.