When you’re ordering hundreds or even thousands of exercise books, saving a few pence per book can make a noticeable difference. But is choosing the cheapest option always the best way to manage your school’s budget?
Exercise books are one of those everyday classroom essentials that rarely get much attention until it’s time to reorder. Teachers need the right sizes and rulings, pupils need books that last, and whoever is responsible for purchasing must make the budget stretch as far as possible.
With so many options available, it’s tempting to compare prices, pick the cheapest and move on. But the price of an exercise book is only part of the story. The number of pages, paper quality, cover durability and even how the books are delivered can all affect what your school is actually getting for its money.
This insight asks the question, what should schools be looking at before placing their next order, and answers many more.
- Are You Comparing Like for Like?
- Could the Wrong Exercise Book Be Costing You Money?
- Does Buying Exercise Books in Bulk Save Money?
- What About Paper Quality and Durability?
- Could Delivery Be an Overlooked Cost?
- Are There Other Ways to Make Exercise Books Work Harder?
Are You Comparing Like for Like?
Two exercise books might look almost identical online, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re buying the same thing.
One might have a thinner cover, fewer pages or a different paper weight. Another might cost slightly more but offer better value over the school year.
Before comparing prices, it’s worth checking:
- Page count: How many pages are included, and will the book last as long as expected?
- Paper weight: Is the paper suitable for everyday writing without excessive show-through?
- Cover quality: Will it withstand regular use in classrooms and school bags?
- Size: Are you comparing A4 with A4, rather than A4 with A4+?
- Ruling: Does the book have the correct line spacing or squares for the subject?
These details might seem small, but across an entire school, they can make a considerable difference.
Could the Wrong Exercise Book Be Costing You Money?
Imagine a school ordering 2,000 exercise books, only to discover that some departments need a different ruling or the books aren’t quite large enough for the work pupils are doing.
That can mean additional orders, unused stock and extra administration.
Getting the specification right from the beginning can help avoid those problems. For example, A4 and A4+ exercise books are both popular choices, but they aren’t interchangeable for every school. A4+ offers additional writing space, which may be useful for certain subjects or teaching approaches. Similarly, younger pupils may need wider lines, while maths departments often prefer squared paper.
Polycopy offers a wide choice of school exercise books in different sizes, rulings and colours, making it easier to find the right books for individual departments.
Rather than automatically reordering what was purchased last year, it might be worth asking teachers whether those books are still meeting their needs. A short conversation before ordering could prevent unnecessary expenditure later.
Does Buying Exercise Books in Bulk Save Money?
For schools and academy trusts, buying exercise books in bulk can be a practical way to make budgets go further. With hundreds or even thousands of books needed throughout the academic year, ordering larger quantities can help reduce the cost per book and make purchasing more straightforward.
Bringing departmental orders together can also make a difference. Rather than placing several smaller orders throughout the term, schools can plan ahead, take advantage of bulk pricing and arrange deliveries around their requirements.
For larger schools and academy trusts, pallet quantities may offer further savings, particularly when ordering a mixture of sizes, colours and rulings.
Getting the best value isn’t simply about ordering as many books as possible. It’s about having the right quantities available when they’re needed, without tying up budgets in unnecessary stock.
If you’re planning an order, you can browse Polycopy’s exercise book range online to compare the available options before speaking to our team about larger quantities.
What About Paper Quality and Durability?
Exercise books have to withstand plenty of everyday use, from being carried between lessons and squeezed into school bags to being opened and written in throughout the academic year. Choosing the right quality can make a real difference to how well they last.
Paper weight is an important consideration, particularly when pupils are writing on both sides of the page or using different types of pens and highlighters. Thinner paper can sometimes allow ink to show through, making work harder to read and leaving less usable writing space.
The cover is just as important. A sturdy cover helps protect pupils’ work and keeps books in better condition, particularly when they’re being used regularly over several months.
Of course, schools don’t necessarily need to spend more to get a good-quality exercise book. The aim is to find a product that offers the right balance of quality, durability and price for its intended use.
One of the easiest ways to make that decision is to see the books for yourself. Polycopy offers free exercise book samples allowing schools to check the paper, ruling and quality before committing to a purchase.
Could Delivery Be an Overlooked Cost?
There’s another part of ordering exercise books that doesn’t always appear on a quotation: what happens when they arrive?
For a school ordering several thousand books, receiving a large delivery is only the beginning. Someone then has to sort everything, work out which department ordered what and distribute the books around the building. In a large secondary school or academy, that can become quite a job.
Polycopy’s labelled classroom delivery service helps schools organise orders by classroom or department, reducing the amount of sorting required after delivery.
Our own delivery vehicles also allow us to provide a more personal service across our regular delivery areas.
It’s worth remembering that saving money isn’t always about paying less for the product itself. Sometimes, it’s about reducing the time and effort involved in getting it where it needs to be.
Are There Other Ways to Make Exercise Books Work Harder?
Schools can also consider a few practical extras when reviewing their exercise book requirements.
Custom printed covers can include a school’s branding or other agreed design, creating a consistent appearance across departments.
Hole-punched exercise books can be useful where work needs to be organised or retained, with treasury tags available to help secure pages.
Labels can help pupils and teachers identify books, particularly where different subjects use similar cover colours.
None of these services will be essential for every school, but they’re worth exploring when planning a larger order.
You can find more information about custom covers, hole punching and labelled delivery on our exercise books page.
Planning Your Next Exercise Book Order?
Polycopy supplies exercise books to schools, academies and colleges, with a choice of sizes, rulings and cover colours.
Whether you’re ordering a few packs, preparing for a new term or purchasing in bulk for an academy trust, our team can help you find a suitable option.
Explore our exercise book range and services, shop exercise books online, or request a free sample before making your decision.
Sometimes getting better value starts with asking a few questions before you order.
Give our sales team a call on 01509 610077 for some expert advice.