Start The New Academic Year 2026 The Right Way

The school holidays are here and as we settle in for lazy summer days. We are also planning the back to school, college or university that is weeks away as well. I am sharing some ideas to help start the new academic year 2026 the right way.

Cosori

Every home needs to be practical as we start the new academic year. Whether you are a busy parent trying to cope with back to school and after school clubs, or starting a new life as a student and needing quick and easy meals. The Cosori Twinfry Compact Airfryer will help you cope with meal times with ease.

The 8.6L capacity of this airfyer that works as either two separate cooking areas you can cook two items at different temperatures at the same time. Or you can remove the centre partition and have one large cooking area. Making this the perfect addition to any student kitchen or busy family kitchen and thanks to its unique Dual Blaze™ technology, it cooks from the top and bottom simultaneously, circulating heat evenly around food for crispier results – say goodbye to flipping your chips halfway through cooking.

Thinking Gifts

With practical items Thinking Gifts have great little gift ideas to help with back to school and reading. Their range includes –

• Flexilight Pals Book Light (Owl) – £9.99 
• Neklite Pals (Panda) – £29.99
• Penmark (Bookworm) – £4.99
• Cuddly Readers Tablet Stand & Book Holder (Dinosaur) – £24.99

Uni-ball

A new academic year means new stationery and what better way to start than new pens. It is always a good start to the year when you have decent pens to help with your lessons and studies.

Uni-ball have a lovely range which includes –

• Jetstream 101
• Eye

STABILO

A brand that needs mo introduction is STABILO who have a wide range of pens for all ages, great for when the new term starts. Their range includes –

•  STABILO point 88 (RRP from £2.17)
  The brand’s iconic fine liner features its instantly recognisable hexagonal barrel, delivering precise lines for note-taking, revision and creative projects. Available in an impressive 65 colours, it also features Anti-Dry-Out Technology, making it ideal for busy students.
• STABILO swing cool Pastel (RRP from £2.36)
  Perfect for aesthetic note-taking, these pastel highlighters have a sleek matt finish, are pencil case friendly, and feature STABILO’s signature Anti-Dry-Out Technology. Available in 28 soft shades, they’re a must-have for students looking to add colour without overwhelming the page.
• STABILO BOSS ORIGINAL (RRP from £2.87)
• A true stationery icon, the BOSS ORIGINAL highlighter is available in 30 vibrant colours with two line widths for versatile highlighting. Featuring Anti-Dry-Out Technology, it’s designed to withstand long revision sessions without drying out.

MINISO

A much loved brand is MINISO who have every occasion covered including back to school. They have a lovely range of back to school products including –

• Animal Series Blue Ink Signature Blue Pen
• Animal Series B5 28 Page Stitch Bound Blue Notebook

Boutique Gifts

No matter what age you are the back to school stationery and drinks bottles are always a great way to start of your academic year. Boutique Gifts have a lovely range for the start of the new academic year, including

Pink Notebook, Pen & White Water Bottle Gift Set –

The set includes –

• – Debossed A5 Pink Notebook.
• – Personalised White Water Bottle.
• – Engraved Pink Pen.
• Available in a variety of colours and styles

Pen Heaven

Everyone loves to have a nice pen to write with. Whether it is for school work or just general writing. Pen Heaven are always a great place to go for the perfect pen. Their range includes –

• LAMY safari 2025 Special Edition Dark Dusk Rollerball Pen
• Caran d’Ache Special Edition Horizon 849 Ballpoint Pen & 844 Mechanical Pencil Set
• Plus a whole wide range of pens and journals
  
  

Laifen Wave Pro

The Laifen Wave Pro seamlessly blends a sleek, modern look with a variety of finishes, including a stylish transparent black option. It features innovative oscillation and vibration technology, with the world’s first 60° oscillations and up to 66,000 sonic vibrations per minute, making it easy to follow the dentist-recommended Modified Bass technique. With customisable modes, smart pressure sensors, personalised brushing reports through the Laifen app, and a battery that lasts up to 70 days, it’s a reliable companion for busy students on the go.

Laifen P3 Electric Shaver

The Laifen P3 Electric Shaver is a compact grooming device perfect for travel. It features Laifen’s ArcBlade shaving system with 146.2° surface coverage, an ultra-thin hypoallergenic foil ideal for sensitive skin, and a high-speed twin linear motor that cuts up to 12,000 hairs per minute. The shaver offers up to 100 minutes of battery life, fast USB-C charging, a quick 3-minute boost for short trips, and is waterproof with an IPX7 rating, making it suitable for both wet and dry shaving.

Snacking

Wild Thingz

Perfect for snacking, back to school or snacks WIld Thingz are great as they offer all the joy of sweets but with half the sugar. Available in two great flavours –

• Berry Mix – Blueberry Vees, Strawberry Butterflies, Raspberry Wasps and Blackcurrant Ladybirds
• Tropical Mix – Mango Spiders, Peach Vees, Orange Snails and Pineapple Frogs