School stationery list: what every student really needs

Every school sends a supply list, and every parent ends up making a second trip for the things that were not on it. This guide covers what students use most at each stage, so you can buy the right amount once. Always check your school's own list first, especially for notebook sizes and colours.

KG and early years

Small hands need thick, simple tools.

• Wax crayons, a pack of 12 is enough
• Thick pencils, an eraser and a sharpener with a container
• A glue stick and child-safe scissors
• A drawing book and a pack of colour paper
• A lunch box and a water bottle

Primary school

• HB pencils by the dozen. They disappear quickly
• Colour pencils, 12 or 24 shades
• A 30 cm ruler, eraser and sharpener
• Notebooks in the ruling your school asks for: single line, four line, square or Arabic ruling
• A pencil case that closes properly
• Book covers and name labels

Arabic notebooks open from the right and have their own ruling. We keep both English and Arabic notebooks, so say which subjects you are buying for.

Secondary school

• Ball pens in blue, black and red, plus a few gel pens
• Highlighters for revision
• A geometry box with compass, protractor and set squares
• A scientific calculator. The Casio fx-82ES Plus is the model most schools ask for. Confirm with the maths teacher before buying a more advanced one
• Subject notebooks or a ring binder with dividers
• Sticky notes and correction tape

The school bag

A school bag should have wide padded straps and sit above the child's waist. Choose the size by the child, not by how much it can hold: a bag that is too big gets overfilled. Trolley bags help younger children with heavy books if the school allows them.

Buy once, or buy in packs?

• Buy once and buy well: school bag, calculator, geometry box, lunch box, scissors.
• Buy in packs: pencils, erasers, glue sticks, pens and notebooks. A full box costs less per piece and saves a trip in the middle of term.

Three things that save trouble later

• Label everything with the child's name and class, including the calculator and water bottle.
• Keep a small spare set at home: two pencils, an eraser, a glue stick and a notebook.
• For art projects, keep chart paper and markers ready. Projects are usually announced the night before.

Schools and bulk orders

If you are buying for a class, a nursery or a whole school, send us the list with quantities and we will quote for everything together. Email sales@raifacentre.qa or message us on WhatsApp. Parents can order online from School Bags & Accessories and Writing & Marking and pay cash on delivery.