Back to school sales 2024: best deals on backpacks, stationery, uniform and more
There are just a few short weeks left to shop the back to school sales, so here are the best deals available on uniform, stationery, technology and more.
![Mother and daughter in a bookstore Happy mother with her daughter choosing and buying school supplies. Education and primary school preparations concept.](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/GettyImages-1272487212-32fe40a.jpg?quality=90&resize=980,654)
With the summer holidays well underway, there are just a few weeks left to shop the back to school sales.
This year, dozens of UK retailers have lowered their prices to meet the needs of parents and their school-age children, from reductions on uniforms, backpacks and stationery, to technology essentials like laptops and phones.
Some major supermarkets like M&S and Sainsbury's have already been and gone with their clothing sales, but there are still plenty of deals and discounts available.
Some of our favourites so far are 25% off backpacks at Argos and £300 discounts on laptops at HP, plus WH Smith is running a clearance sale with up to 70% off stationery.
If you're not sure what to buy, check out our tried and tested school uniform guide, but for now, here's our full guide to what to buy in the back to school sales 2024. Plus, how to make your own Yoto cards and did you know that Yoto has launched the full Yoto Harry Potter series?
More like this
Jump to:
- Which UK retailers have back to school sales live right now?
- When do back to school sales start in the UK?
- When do back to school sales end in the UK?
- Best deals we’ve found so far in the 2024 UK back to school sales
Which UK retailers have back to school sales live right now?
There are dozens of shops taking part in this year's back to school sales so here's an overview of what you can get:
- Argos – Offering up to 25% off backpacks, plus discounts on stationery, uniforms, shoes and more
- Clarks – 20% off school shoes and £10 off sports shoes
- Currys – Up to £300 off Acer laptops and £250 off Apple Macs
- Disney Store – Up to 40% off backpacks, water bottles, jackets and more
- Foot Asylum – 20% off for students on backpacks and shoes
- House of Fraser – Major discounts on coats, shoes, socks and other essentials
- HP – Get up to £300 off laptops and student tech
- John Lewis – Uniform bundles from £7, plus savings on lunchboxes, water bottles and sports kit
- Lenovo – Save up to 43% on laptops
- Modibodi – 15% off teen period underwear
- M&S – Get all school uniform essentials in red, green, yellow, blue, pink and more
- New Look – Girls' school clothes and bags from £6
- Next – School uniform from £4 a shirt and £7 a skirt
- Papersmiths – Shop colourful notebooks and pads from £20
- Ryman – Discounts across all stationery essentials including pens, pencils and math sets
- Sainsbury's – savings on lunch box snacks and lunchboxes
- Sports Direct – Discounts on school coats and PE kit
- Tesco – Back to school stationery for £1 and under
- Trotters – 10% off black school shoes and trainers
- Tu Clothing – 2022 price lock on school uniform, polo shirts and sportswear from £3
- Vistaprint – Savings on personalised school supplies
- Waterstones – Save on notebooks, pens and Harry Potter-themed stationery supplies
- WH Smith – 70% clearance sale on stationery, plus an extra 10% off for students with a Student Beans or UNiDAYS ID
- The Works – Savings on notebooks, pen sets and other stationery essentials
- Wowcher – Backpack sale with models starting from £6.99
- Wuka – 3 for £36 on Teen Stretch and Teen Period underwear
When do back to school sales start in the UK?
The back to school sales tend to start from the minute the schools break up in July, although some have already been and gone.
Major supermarkets like Sainsbury's started as early as the 19th of June, while M&S and Aldi started on the 2nd and 4th of July. Tesco kicked theirs off a little later from the 23rd and other retailers like Argos and WH Smith have also started their sales.
When do back to school sales end in the UK?
Some back to school sales run all the way up to the end of the summer holidays, although this largely depends on the retailer.
The uniform sales at Asda, Sainsbury's and M&S have all ended, but you still may be able to find a good price in store and there are still sales on at Tesco, Aldi and more.
As for stationery and tech items, there are still plenty of sales on at Argos, Currys, WH Smith and other general retailers.
Best deals we’ve found so far in the 2024 UK back to school sales
Best back to school laptop deals
Apple MacBook Air 13.6-inch (2022) | £1,099 £849 (save £250 or 22%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 140932 Apple Macbook Air](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-140932-5ef122b.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
The Apple MacBook Air is now on sale for £849 at Currys. Although this is still an expensive purchase, MacBooks are made to last and will likely be your child's main device for most of secondary school.
Buy Apple MacBook Air 13.6-inch (2022) for £1,099 £849 (save £250 or 22%) at Currys
ACER Aspire Laptop | £269 £189 (save £80 or 29%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 141222 Acer laptop](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-141222-547e2f0.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
For a cheaper option, the Acer Aspire is a solid laptop that performs all the basic functions you need for homework tasks, plus it comes with a Microsoft 365 subscription worth £59.99.
Buy ACER Aspire Laptop for £269 £189 (save £80 or 29%) at Currys
HP Pavilion 15-eg2017na Touchscreen Laptop | £700 £599.99 (save £100.01 or 14%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 141624 hp laptop](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-141624-4f17c3e.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
At HP, you can get this Pavilion laptop, which comes with a foldable touch screen, for £100 less.
Buy HP Pavilion 15-eg2017na Touchscreen Laptop for £700 £599.99 (save £100.01 or 14%) at HP
Best back to school stationery deals
Helix Oxford Complete Back to School Stationery Set | £27.99 £23.99 (save £4 or 16%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 142348 stationery set](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-142348-4e4ae0a.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
If you're starting from scratch with stationery shopping, you can't go wrong with this Oxford complete set, featuring pens, pencils, colouring pencils, a calculator, rubber and a ruler.
Buy Helix Oxford Complete Back to School Stationery Set for £27.99 £23.99 (save £4 or 16%)
Casio FX-83GTCW Scientific Calculator | £17 £12.75 (save £4.25 or 25%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 143747 Scientific calculator](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-143747-09bbe6a.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
When your child heads off to secondary school, scientific calculators become a must. Luckily you can get them right now for 25% less at Amazon.
Buy Casio FX-83GTCW Scientific Calculator for £17 £12.75 (save £4.25 or 25%) at Argos
Bic Stationery Set: 20 Piece Set | £10.99 £8.99 (save £2.99 or 27%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 143847 Bic stationery set](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-143847-6c475c4.jpg?quality=90&fit=594,396)
Another worthy bulk buy is this Bic stationery set from The Works. It comes with a range of colourful pens as well as a glue stick and rubber.
Buy Bic Stationery Set: 20 Piece Set for £10.99 £8.99 (save £2.99 or 27%) at The Works
Best back to school backpack and lunchbox deals
Sistema Ocean Bound Lunch Box & Bottle | £9 £6.75 (save £3.25 or 25%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 144603 lunchbox and water bottle](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-144603-3f5dd5a.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
This set comes with a simple lunchbox and water bottle that's perfect for when your child gets to the stage of not wanting attention on themselves.
Buy Sistema Ocean Bound Lunch Box & Bottle for £9 £6.75 (save £3.25 or 25%) at Argos
FA England Crest Lunch Bag | £16.99 £5 (save £11.99 or 70%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 144708 England lunch box](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-144708-b710e3a.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
Did your little one love the Euros? Well then they'll love this England FA lunchbox, now just £5.
Buy FA England Crest Lunch Bag for £16.99 £5 (save £11.99 or 70%) at House of Fraser
Beau Elliot Brokenhearted Lunchbag | £19.99 £9.20 (save £10.79 or 53%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 144148 black and white lunchbox](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-144148-2231ad0.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
This lunchbox has a stylish black and white pattern that's perfect for the artsy or fashion-minded.
Buy Beau Elliot Brokenhearted Lunchbag for £19.99 £9.20 (save £10.79 or 53%) at WH Smith
Smash Daisy Backpack | £9 £6.75 (save £3.25 or 25%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 144239 daisy backpack](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-144239-8da2990.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
Argos is running a 25% sale across a tonne of back to school backpacks, including this beautiful blue daisy design.
Buy Smash Daisy Backpack for £9 £6.75 (save £3.25 or 25%) at Argos
Best back to school uniform and shoe deals
John Lewis ANYDAY Unisex Cotton School Jumper, Pack of 2 | £11 £7.50 (save £3.50 or 31%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 145700 Screenshot 2024-08-13 145700](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-145700-3062e25.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
At John Lewis, you can get £3.50 off this two-pack of jumpers, which come in blue, black, red, green and grey.
Barbour Girls Littlebury Quilted Jacket | £119 £37 (save £82 or 68%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 145901 Screenshot 2024-08-13 145901](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-145901-74f6efd.jpg?quality=90&fit=684,456)
Need a winter coat? This gorgeous Barbour comes in rose and yellow and is on sale for £82 less.
Buy Barbour Girls Littlebury Quilted Jacket for £119 £37 (save £82 or 68%) at House of Fraser
Adidas black school shoes | £27.99 £23 (save £4.99 or 17%)
![Screenshot 2024-08-13 150204 adidas shoes](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-150204-2c4aa69.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
Sports Direct has a tonne of shoe savings, including this Adidas black school trainer pair for £4.99 less.
Buy Adidas black school shoes for £27.99 £23 (save £4.99 or 17%) at Sports Direct
Authors
![2](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/28/2024/08/2-86c6eaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=1024,683)
Create the perfect wishlist for your baby with MyCrib
Are you expecting and don't know where to start? Discover how MyCrib can help you build your dream wishlist. You can add products from any site with just one click and even use MyCrib's buying assistant to help get you started.