Regardless of what and where you are studying, good organisation is the key for students to succeed in their education. This starts with having the right stationary to properly work on and set out your work! Here is a list of the eight essential stationary that are the most important in your school life.

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Binder

A good quality-binder is essential for school: it's where you can safely store all your notes, keep worksheets, and organise your schoolwork. Personally, I find binders from the ColourHide brand, such as this one, to be quite durable... plus they come in a variety of fun colours! Clear binders are also great options to organise materials and decorate a bit, like this binder that comes in a pack of 2. It is also less structured than the other option, making it school-bag friendly.

Paired with high-quality lined paper for notes, tab dividers for organisation, and either sheet protectors or a hole punch to file away sheets, your binder is soon to become your go-to for studying and school!

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Subject Notebook

When it comes to taking notes on lesson materials, nothing is better than a good-quality subject notebook! Personally, I have a 5-section notebook with almost all my study notes, and it is my most valuable resource in test preparation.

My personal favourite subject notebook has to be this one from the Oxford website — not only does it have high GSM paper so you can write freely on both sides of the page, it pairs with a handy app called Scribzee that allows you to scan and keep your notes electronically.

Pens

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Arguably the most important stationary item for any student, having good pens that you find easy to write with are key to success! In my opinion, 1.0mm ballpoint pens are the best as they do not smudge and almost glide across the page as I write, such as this handy 12-pack from Pilot or this 6-pack from BIC.

For a thinner option, I would opt for these 0.5mm Stabilo pens, and if you prefer rollerball pens, I recommend this Pentel pen which conveniently comes with 2 refills.

It is also always handy to have a good-quality 4- or 5-colour retractable pen on you for marking, colour-coding, etc. This one from BIC, which comes in packs of 3 or 4, is always reliable for me.

I find it useful to have a set of coloured gel pens on hand as well to colour code my notes and annotations. The Pilot brand has a couple of great gel pen sets, like this reliable 12-pack or this stylish pack of 10.

Mechanical Pencil

As much as lead pencils are an essential tool, they can sometimes be inconvenient to constantly sharpen... plus there never seems to be an eraser when one is needed! Mechanical pencils can be a much more practical option, such as this budget-friendly 24-pack from BIC.

For a pricier but longer-lasting option, this Faber-Castell mechanical pencil is a reliable yet stylish option.

Personally, I prefer using 0.7mm lead for my mechanical pencils. However, depending on how much pressure you apply when you write, a 0.5 or 0.9mm lead may work for you.

Highlighters

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Highlighters are arguably the most versatile stationary item to exist. They can be used to annotate textbooks, decorate pages, and colour-code notes.

I love this 23-pack from Stabilo which has every highlighter colour imaginable! For a more pencil case-friendly option, highlighters like these ones from the Stabilo Swing Cool range, are the perfect size and shape.

Mini Stapler

It is always handy to have a mini stapler on hand to collate and organise worksheets — plus, you will earn endless thanks from your friends when you help them to staple their assignments last-minute!

This small stapler comes in a variety of pastel colours, whereas this 20-pack is incredibly budget friendly.

Sticky Notes

When it comes to adding extra notes to textbooks and workbooks, passing notes to someone, or writing down things to remember, sticky notes are invaluable. I always find that the Post-It brand is best for these.

This value pack has a great variety of sticky notes and page tabs for various purposes, but there is also these regular square post-its if you want the original. These transparent sticky notes can also be handy for annotations, and this post-it dispenser would be a great addition to any desk.

Extras

The following stationary items can be useful depending on your grade or which subjects you take, but are not needed for every student:

• maths set
• scissors
• glue/tape
• correction tape
• brush pens
• art supplies

Conclusion

In summary, even though the school supplies you will need can vary drastically, there are certain essentials that can make school and studying infinitely easier. Happy school shopping!