We know it’s only the start of August but the new school year is just around the corner, which for many parents means that sinking feeling is about to hit you. You know the one: it often comes with sweaty palms as the realisation sets in about just how much you still have to sort out before school starts.
But never fear, we will get through this together.
Whether you have children whose favourite day of the year isn’t Christmas, but rather that late summer day when a new pencil case and stationery is on the shopping list, or the sort of child who needs to be dragged kicking and screaming (metaphorically speaking….hopefully) to try on those new-year school shoes, we hope to have you covered with this guide to where you can find the best deals in Guernsey covering uniform, school shoes, labelling, accessories, lunchtime and stationery, as well as information on additional support with back to school needs.
Uniform
What do you mean they’ve outgrown all their school clothes? It’s only been six weeks.
We’re sure words similar to the above have been uttered in many a household across the island. It’s a good job there are plenty of places you can find what you need, which gives you scope to find the best price for each item.
And if you’re unsure as to which uniform your high schooler requires don’t worry, we’ve linked the information here for Les Beaucamps High School, Les Varendes High School and St Sampsons High School.
British Red Cross Shop Rohais, St Peter Port
There’s a small selection in the charity shop
Fletcher Sports New Road, St Sampson
All States and private, primary and secondary school uniform
Gamechangers Oatlands Village, St Sampson
All States primary and secondary school uniform
Les Bourgs Hospice Charity Shop Rue des Huriaux, St Martin
A back-to-school display of school uniform items in store
Happy for you to ask when you’re there and they’ll check the stock room for you
M&S Kids Le Bordage, St Peter Port
School uniform range available instore
Matalan La Grande Rue, St Martin
School uniform range available instore
10% off full priced purchases for IslandFamilies Community Club members
Next The Pollet, St Peter Port
A selection of school uniform in store
They can also order for you if there’s anything they don’t have in store for you
Peacocks Alliance, Braye Road, Vale
Selection of school trousers, shirts, pinafore dresses and skirts in store
Shoestring The Bridge, St Sampson
All States primary school uniform
There’s a small selection of discounted high school uniform as Shoestring will only be stocking the primary school items going forward.
School shoes
Gulp…they need new shoes.
While it’s not likely to be high up on your summer bucket list, in Guernsey we’re blessed with some first-class customer service when it comes to finding the right school shoe for your little ones (or big ones if you’re lucky enough to be planning a shoe-shopping adventure with a teenager).
Gamechangers Oatlands Village, St Sampson
Stockist of Start-Rite school shoes
Keyprice Les Mielles Rd, Vale
A selection of school shoes for all ages
Les Bourgs Hospice Charity Shop Rue des Huriaux, St Martin
Some shoes in the back-to-school display in store
Matalan La Grande Rue, St Martin
Small selection of school shoes range available in store
10% off full priced purchases for IslandFamilies Community Club members
M&S Kids Le Bordage, St Peter Port
School shoes available instore
Peacocks Alliance, Braye Road, Vale
A range of back-to-school shoes in store
Schuh 43 High Street, St Peter Port
Stockists of schuh, Kickers, Dr Martens, Geox and Lelli Kelly school shoes
£5 off full price backpack or lunch box when purchasing full price shoes in August
Year-round -trade in any old shoes for recycling and get £5 off a new pair (full price and over £25)
Shoe Zone The Bridge, St Sampson
A selection of school shoes for all ages as well as PE pumps
Sole Mates Commercial Arcade, St Peter Port
Stockists of Clarks, Geox, Pediped, Ricosta, Skechers and Hush Puppies school shoes
10% off any pair of sports shoes when buying a pair of school shoes in store this summer
To help avoid the queues, you can book a shoe fitting appointment online here.
Labelling
As all parents know, anything your children take to school that isn’t labelled stands a strong chance of not making it home. The below can take care of all your labelling needs, including Brown Paper Packages and Guernsey Labels who offer discounts to our Community Club cardholders.
Fletcher Sports Online
Iron on name labels available
Gamechangers Oatlands Village, St Sampsons
Sells iron on name tab kits
Guernsey Labels
All types of labels in different sizes available
Completed the next day if ordered online by 9pm
Pack discounts for IslandFamilies Community Club members
Accessories
Backpacks, water bottles, hair clips and bands in school colours, these shops can fulfil all your accessorising needs.
Claire’s Accessories Smith Street, St Peter Port
Backpacks, water bottles, keyrings
Fletcher Sports New Road, St Sampsons
Primary school branded items – book bag, hats
Generic backpacks, plain caps, sports water bottles
School coloured hair accessories
Gamechangers Oatlands Village, St Sampsons
School branded items – backpacks, PE bags, book bags, sun hats, school caps
Sports items inc. gum shields, swimming goggles and water bottles
School coloured hair accessories
Keyprice Les Mielles Rd, Vale
Backpacks, stationery, lunchboxes, water bottles and pencil cases
Trainers, coloured PE t-shirts, socks and tights
Matalan La Grande Rue, St Martin
Selection of school bags in store
10% off full priced purchases for IslandFamilies Community Club members
Peacocks Alliance, Braye Road, Vale
School bags and hair accessories
Schuh 43 High Street, St Peter Port
Stockists of Hype lunchboxes, water bottles, PE bags and pencil cases with matching bags
Shoe Zone The Bridge, St Sampson
School socks, back packs, PE bags and PE pumps
Sole Mates Commercial Arcade, St Peter Port
Stockists of Therma bottles and Eco Water bottles
School coloured hair accessories
Superdry 8 Smith Street, St Peter Port
Superdry backpacks, pencil cases, water bottles
The Guernsey Weigh Market Buildings, St Peter Port
Stainless steel lunchboxes and bottles, fabric lunchboxes, bamboo sporks and food wraps
10% off for IslandFamilies Community Club members
The Lexicon 23-25 The Pollet, St Peter Port
Water bottles, lunchboxes, small selection of young children’s backpacks
Lunchtime
Everyone loves a new lunchbox, and even more so when opening them up to find all sorts of yummy goodies inside.
Brown Paper Packages Les Landes, Vale
Personalised lunch bags, drinks bottles
10% off for IslandFamilies Community Club members
The Guernsey Weigh Market Buildings, St Peter Port
Packaging free food items for lunchboxes
10% off for IslandFamilies Community Club members
Waitrose – Admiral Park and Rohais
Lunchboxes and water bottles
Stationery
Shopping for stationery can be a surprisingly divisive subject. There are many, many of us who absolute adore stationery, and on the flip side there are those who think us a little strange for getting so excited about pencil cases. At IslandFamilies we come down firmly on the adoration side of the fence, and what a wonderful place it is over here with all that the below shops have to offer.
Beekers The Bridge, St Sampson
All sorts of school stationery including pencil cases, pens, erasers
Claire’s Accessories Smith Street, St Peter Port
All sorts of school stationery including pencil cases, pens, erasers
Cobo Village Centre Route De Carteret, Castel
Stationery, notebooks, printer paper
The Lexicon 23-25 The Pollet, St Peter Port
Stationery, pens, diaries, arts & craft
Officepoint Barras Lane, Vale
Stationery, pens, diaries, arts & craft, binders, office furniture
WHSmith 18-20 The Pollet, St Peter Port
3 for 2 all back to school stationery
Some items currently half price
Support
Guernsey Welfare Service
The Guernsey Welfare Service’s foodbank and voucher scheme is available all year round to low-income families and we would encourage anyone who is struggling with their finances to contact them. Guernsey Welfare is also able to help with school uniform for those who just miss the threshold of help for the Social Security grant. Anyone who requires their help would need to register as a client.
Seee more details here.
School Uniform Grant
The States of Guernsey operates a means-tested grant scheme to help parents with the cost of buying school uniforms The Uniform Grant is a means tested benefit, issued annually, intended to assist you in providing a basic school uniform for your children. The amount of grant you receive is calculated with reference to your annual household income and allowed expenses. See more details here.
Youth Commission Services
The Youth Commission for Guernsey & Alderney has a variety of services available to children from emotion support and positive activities to educational sessions in schools and projects to support youth voice. The Youth Commission also offers support to third sector organisations.