Welcome to the new academic year! Hopefully your summer was fun and relaxing, but now it’s time to get back into school mode and start preparing for the year ahead. Maybe you’re just entering high school and are not sure about what you need in your pencil case? Or maybe GCSEs and A-Levels are just on the horizon and you need some reliable study materials to get you through?
At Oxford, we’ve got everything you need to fill up your school bag and make sure you hit the ground running this September. Whatever stage you’re at, we’ve created our top tips and helpful hints to help you ace 2025/2026:
1. Set your academic goals early
It’s so easy to run headfirst into September with no real targets or goals. Whilst this may work for the first few weeks, so many students soon find they struggle to know which topics they need to revise first, or which lesson they need to focus on more. One of the best ways to set some goals is by using the first page of a brand new Oxford notebook to write out all your targets for the year. Your targets don’t need to be complicated or too detailed, but just in case you need some inspiration we’ve come up with a few suggestions:
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Improve your grade in a certain subject e.g. “I want to get a B in Chemistry by the winter break.”
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Follow a revision timetable e.g. “I want to create a revision timetable by the end of the week and follow it throughout the year.”
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Ensure you come to every lesson prepared e.g. “I want to make sure I arrive at every lesson with my pencil case, notebooks, and water bottle.”
Feel free to change and adapt your targets throughout the year as and when you tick them off your list. Having these in the front of your notebook is such a great way to stay focused and keep you on track to reach all your academic goals.
2. Grab your revision materials
If you’re heading into exams this year, you might want to begin thinking about what you’ll need when revision season comes around. Whilst it might seem a bit early to be thinking about flash cards and study notes, being ready and prepared for revision can help to de-stress and relax. So if you’re picking up some last-minute Back to School items, maybe consider thinking ahead and grabbing your revision materials at 20% off during our sale. Here’s everything you might need to get in preparation for revision season:
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Flash cards – an exam time staple! Our Oxford flash cards come in multiple different colours and are equipped with Scribzee so you can study on the go. Making your flash cards early means you’ll have less to prepare during the height of revision season – so make sure you pick up a few packs now!
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Revision Notebook – our Oxford Campus revision notebooks are the ideal revision prep companion. They feature multi-coloured pages perfect for organising your notes by topic or subject, as well as a revision timetable to help keep you on track. Check out our range available in aqua, red, or navy.
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Highlighters – and of course what revision supply list is complete without some vibrant highlighters? Our Pelikan assorted highlighters in both brights and pastels make study sessions colourful and easy.
3. Treat yourself to a new school bag
If you’re heading into high school for the first time, or about to embark on your undergraduate degree in a whole different city, treating yourself to a brand new backpack or tote bag is the perfect way to refresh yourself for the next year. At Oxford, we have some great choices for both rucksacks and tote bags available in different colours. Here’s why a new school bag is a September staple:
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Stronger back and shoulder support – often old school bags can start to lose their shape and padding. Our Oxford backpacks feature ergonomic padded shoulder straps and back, designed to fit you comfortably. No more back aches when carrying your heavy textbooks!
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Better organisation – maybe one of your goals this year is to be better organised? If so, a new school bag is a good way to start! Making use of the 12 different compartments and pockets within Oxford backpacks and tote bags will help you keep your notebooks, folders, and stationery in order.
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Fresh mindset – finally, a brand new bag can help with creating a fresh mindset for the year ahead. If you’re nervous about moving onto another year in your education, there’s nothing like a bag that reflects you and your personality to give you that “new year, new you” feeling.
Heading back to school after the summer can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! September is always a great opportunity for a fresh start and approach this new academic year with purpose. Whether you’re about to embark on your university career, or starting to think about your GCSE's options, making sure you’re prepared and ready for school will set you up for success. If you haven’t yet finished your back to school shopping, make sure you check out August’s blog here with a full list of stationery you might need.
Good luck and enjoy September!
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