Personalised Exercise Books vs Standard: Which Is Best for Your School?

Schools across the UK are increasingly exploring personalised exercise books UK wide as an alternative to standard, off‑the‑shelf stationery. With tighter budgets, rising expectations and a growing emphasis on consistency and presentation, the type of exercise book your school chooses can have a surprisingly big impact.

From behaviour to branding, durability to differentiation, this guide will help you compare both personalised and standard exercise books so you can decide which option is best for your pupils, your staff and your long‑term teaching goals.

Browse our range of bespoke books here:
👉 https://www.bespokeexercisebooks.co.uk/exercise-books/

What Are Standard Exercise Books?

Standard exercise books are the traditional, ready‑made books that schools have bought for decades. They come in fixed colours, fixed sizes and fixed ruling, with little or no flexibility.

Typical features of standard books include:

• Limited colour choice (typically red, blue, green, yellow)

• Basic ruling options (e.g. 8mm or 10mm)

• No school branding

• Basic card covers

• Minimal differentiation between subjects

• Often lower paper quality

Standard books are familiar, simple and quick to order, but increasingly schools find that they limit consistency and organisation.

What Are Personalised Exercise Books?

A wide range of page layouts and options to include custom school specific content increase the value of bespoke exercise books in UK schools.

Personalised exercise books are fully customised to your school or subject area. Schools can tailor everything from the cover design to the internal layout and book size.

Common personalised features include

• Custom covers with school crest or values

• Full colour print, allowing limitless colour‑coding for subjects, key stages or abilities

• Printed handwriting guides, tables or learning objectives inside

• Stronger, laminated covers for durability

• Higher‑weight paper for neater presentation

• Page formatting designed for specific subjects (e.g. grids, music staves, phonics)

Personalisation helps reinforce consistency, behaviour expectations and school identity.

Explore custom options here:
👉 https://www.bespokeexercisebooks.co.uk/exercise-books/

Benefits of Personalised Exercise Books

Tinted paper options are also available, allowing SEND students to benefit from the same high quality bespoke school exercise books.

Improved Presentation and Pride in Work

A personalised book immediately feels more important. When pupils see your school badge, motto or values on the cover, it encourages pride in their work and better presentation.

Many teachers report that personalised books reduce doodling, graffiti and torn covers because pupils feel more ownership.

Stronger Behaviour and Routines

Personalised books allow you to embed behaviour expectations directly, such as:

• Marking codes

• Presentation rules

• Success criteria

• Line spacing guidance

• When every book is consistent, routines are easier to teach and maintain.

Better Organisation Across the School

Colour coding and custom titles help staff and pupils quickly identify subjects.

Benefits include

• Fewer lost or mixed‑up books

• Easier transitions between lessons

• Clear expectations for each subject

• Support for pupils with SEND who benefit from visual cues

This consistency helps both teaching and learning run more smoothly.

Custom Pages for Learning Support

Save classroom time by incorporating reference materials.

Many schools add bespoke internal pages tailored to their curriculum.

Examples include:

• Multiplication grids

• Phonics mats

• Reading strategies

• Writing checklists

• Tiered vocabulary lists

This saves printing costs and ensures pupils always have the tools they need.

Higher Durability and Long-Term Value

Personalised exercise books often use:

• Thicker and higher quality paper

• Laminated or reinforced covers

• Stronger stitching

• 80 pages per book means fewer books required

This means books last longer and stay looking smart throughout the school year.

Benefits of Standard Exercise Books

Lower initial cost

Standard books are cheaper per unit, making them appealing for very tight budgets or large cohort orders.

Fast and simple to order

With no design process and no decisions to make, standard books can be ordered quickly.

Suitable for occasional or specialist use

Where subjects need only a few lessons each year (e.g. RE, PSHE), standard books may be perfectly adequate.

Good for early years or temporary use

In EYFS, where books may be filled quickly, standard books can be a cost‑effective choice.

Personalised Exercise Books vs Standard: Side‑by‑Side Comparison

Feature	Personalised Exercise Books	Standard Exercise Books
Design Quality	High, bespoke	Basic, limited
Durability	Premium and long lasting	Varies by supplier
Cost	Higher	Lower
Customisation	Full colour, branding, layouts	Very limited
Best For	Whole-school consistency and pride	Short-term or low-use subjects

Which Should Your School Choose?

Choose personalised exercise books if…

• You want consistent presentation across subjects

• You want to reinforce behaviour and marking policies

• You value durability and long-lasting books

• You want to reduce printing costs for support sheets

• You want your books to reflect your school identity

• You want to make a great impression at open evenings

Explore personalised options here:
👉 https://www.bespokeexercisebooks.co.uk/exercise-books/

Choose standard exercise books if…

• You have a tight short-term budget

• You need quick replenishment

• The books will be used for only a few sessions

• Presentation is less important for that subject

Why Many UK Schools Are Switching to Personalised Books

More schools are choosing personalised books across the UK because they offer:

Better presentation and behaviour

Pupils take more pride in work when the book feels important.

Long-term cost efficiency

Stronger paper and covers mean fewer replacements mid-year.

Higher consistency for staff

Teachers spend less time reminding pupils about presentation expectations.

A professional look for parents and inspectors

Branded books look purposeful, tidy and organised.

Final Thoughts

Both personalised and standard exercise books have their place in UK classrooms, but personalised books deliver far more long‑term value. They support behaviour, presentation and organisation while saving staff time. Standard books are helpful for occasional subjects or small budgets, but most schools find that bespoke exercise books offer a stronger return on investment and make learning feel more purposeful.

You can explore custom designs, layout ideas and cover options here:
👉 https://www.bespokeexercisebooks.co.uk/exercise-books/

Q&A

What is the difference between personalised and standard exercise books?

Personalised books are custom designed with your school branding, layout and internal pages. Standard books come pre‑made with limited options.

Are personalised exercise books more expensive?

Yes, the unit cost is higher, but durability and reduced print-outs often save money across the year.

Do personalised exercise books support behaviour?

They can include rules, marking codes and presentation guidance, helping reinforce routines.

Are personalised exercise books suitable for primary and secondary?

Yes. They can be tailored for phonics in KS1, grids in KS2 or subject-specific layouts in secondary.

Can we include our school logo?

Absolutely. Logos, colours, mottos and covers can all be customised.

Do personalised books last longer?

Yes. They use stronger covers, better binding and thicker paper.

Are standard exercise books still useful?

They’re ideal for occasional subjects, low budgets or temporary use.

Where can I order personalised exercise books in the UK?

Visit: https://www.bespokeexercisebooks.co.uk/exercise-books/

DoeS Clarkeprint offer standard exercise books too?

No, Clarkeprint only offers high quality bespoke exercise books, which are manufactured to order.