Quick answer: School leavers gifts are personalised keepsakes given to pupils at the end of Year 6, Year 11 or sixth form — most commonly hoodies, t-shirts, tote bags, water bottles and drawstring bags printed or embroidered with the school name, the year group and sometimes every leaver's name. CentralCustom produces them to order with no minimum quantity, a free digital proof before anything is made, and a quote back within one working day.
Leaving day only happens once. Whether it is a Year 6 class walking out of primary for the last time or a Year 11 group finishing GCSEs, the gift is the thing that ends up at the back of a wardrobe for fifteen years — so it is worth getting right.
We decorate leavers gifts for primary schools, secondary schools, sixth forms and PTAs across the UK. You send us the school logo and the year; we send back a digital proof to approve before a single item is made.
Popular school leavers gifts
- Leavers hoodies — still the most requested leavers gift in the UK, usually carrying the school crest on the front and the class list or year group on the back. See our leavers hoodies range.
- Leavers t-shirts and polos — a lower-cost alternative for summer leaving dates, and easier to get signed by the whole year group. More on leavers shirts.
- Drawstring bags and tote bags — practical, cheap enough to give to an entire year group, and genuinely used afterwards.
- Water bottles and travel mugs — a good PTA-funded option where a garment would stretch the budget.
- Caps and beanies — a lighter keepsake that works well for sports teams and residential trips.
- Keyrings, pin badges and embroidered patches — the sub-£5 tier, and the usual choice when the school is buying for several hundred pupils.
Browse the wider schoolwear collection to see what we already produce for schools.
Who these are for
Primary schools and Year 6 leavers. Usually a whole-year-group order paid for by the PTA or split between parents. Names on the back is the near-universal request.
Secondary schools and Year 11. Often self-organised by a group of pupils, which means a longer decision window and more variation in sizes. Order early — GCSE season is a bad time to be chasing a size list.
Sixth forms and university course groups. Smaller numbers, more design freedom, and more likely to want something other than a hoodie.
PTAs and parent groups. No minimum order means you are not forced into buying 50 of something to hit a threshold, which matters when you are funding it yourself.
Why order leavers gifts from CentralCustom
- No minimum order. Order for a class of 12 or a year group of 240.
- Free digital proof before production. You see exactly what the print or embroidery will look like and approve it before anything is made. Nothing goes into production on a guess.
- Typically dispatched 7–14 working days after proof approval, so you can work backwards from your leaving date.
- Your logo setup is kept on file, so next year's order does not start from scratch — and it will match this year's.
- A quote back within one working day.
We decorate in the UK. If you need names on the back, a year-group list, or a one-off design rather than the school crest, that is a normal request here, not an awkward one.
How to order
- Email promo@centralcustom.co.uk or use our contact page with your year group, rough numbers and what you have in mind.
- Send your school logo. If you are not sure what file to send, our guide on preparing your logo covers it.
- We come back with a quote within one working day and a free digital proof.
- You approve the proof; we produce and dispatch, typically 7–14 working days later.
Not sure what to actually give them? Our guide to leavers gift ideas for Year 6 and Year 11 works through eighteen options by year group and budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical school leavers gift?
A personalised hoodie or t-shirt carrying the school logo, the year and often every leaver's name. Below that, drawstring bags, water bottles, caps and keyrings are the usual choices when the school is buying for a whole year group.
Is there a minimum order for leavers gifts?
No. We have no minimum order quantity, so a class of ten and a year group of three hundred are both fine.
How far in advance should we order leavers gifts?
Allow 7–14 working days from proof approval for dispatch, then add time for collecting sizes and names — which is always the slow part. For a July leaving date, start in the spring. Our leavers hoodie ordering timeline sets out the full schedule.
Can we put every pupil's name on the gift?
Yes. A full year-group name list on the back is one of the most common requests we handle, and it appears on the digital proof so you can check the spellings before production.
Can we order a few extra after the main order?
Yes. We keep your logo setup on file, so reorders match the original and do not need setting up again.
Do you supply leavers gifts to PTAs as well as schools?
Yes — PTAs, parent groups, sixth-form committees and individual year groups all order directly.
Get a quote
Email promo@centralcustom.co.uk or contact us with your year group and rough numbers. Quote back within one working day, free digital proof before anything is made.
