Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Ordering Custom Exercise Books
Adding custom content to your exercise books makes them even more useful, ensure you leave enough time to get the required information together.
Ordering custom exercise books for your school should feel exciting. After all, bespoke books give you full control over design, layout, branding, handwriting lines, SEN‑friendly formatting and curriculum‑specific pages. But many schools still face the same pitfalls every year when ordering custom exercise books UK wide, and these mistakes can lead to delays, incorrect specifications or books that simply do not meet the needs of students.
The good news is that every one of these issues is avoidable. With a bit of preparation and guidance, your school can enjoy a smooth, stress‑free ordering process and receive exercise books that look great, feel durable and support teaching and learning across the curriculum.
This article highlights the top mistakes schools commonly make, explains why they happen and shows you how to steer clear of them. Most importantly, it also demonstrates how our team at Clarkeprint BespokeExerciseBooks.co.uk makes the process as simple as possible, with clear artwork guidance, design support and a straightforward ordering system.
Why Schools Choose Custom Exercise Books
Choose the right size school exercise book for your pupil’s requirements, oversize books are ideal if you want to insert lots of printed A4 sheets.
Before we get into the mistakes, it is worth remembering why so many UK schools are switching from generic books to bespoke versions.
Custom exercise books allow you to:
incorporate your school crest, colours and values
include custom pages such as marking policies, feedback grids or SEN supports
tailor ruling to suit handwriting, maths or creative subjects
promote consistency and pride across year groups
ensure the books match your curriculum needs
choose higher‑quality materials that last longer
reinforce behaviour and presentation expectations
They also reduce confusion for students, especially in upper KS2 and KS3 where learners juggle multiple subjects.
Once you’ve experienced the benefits, it is hard to go back to plain, off‑the‑shelf books.
The Top 5 Mistakes Schools Make When Ordering Custom Exercise Books
Vibrant covers and consistent branding across all of your school exercise books.
Below are the most common problems we see when schools place orders, along with the simple fixes that prevent them.
1. Not Finalising Book Specifications Early Enough
One of the most frequent errors is waiting too long to choose:
page ruling type
subject‑specific content
branding
colour schemes
cover finish
paper weight
inside page customisations
Schools are incredibly busy places, especially during the summer term. Rushing these choices often leads to mistakes, design issues or last‑minute amendments that delay production.
How to avoid this
Start discussing specifications early in the summer term or even in spring. The earlier we know what you need, the smoother the process.
If you are unsure, our team provides sample options so you can compare:
maths ruling
handwriting guides
blank sketch pages
lined / wide‑ruled options
SEN‑friendly layouts
2. Sending Low‑Resolution Logos or Unusable Artwork
Ask about our school logo re-drawing service, if you don’t have a high quality version available.
This is easily one of the biggest problems schools experience.
Logos sent as:
screenshots
blurry photos
tiny images pulled from old newsletters
scans from a school jumper
…simply cannot be printed cleanly on a professional book.
Printed covers require crisp artwork in high resolution or vector format. When schools don’t have access to these files, the design process gets delayed while replacements are sourced.
How to avoid it
Make sure your school logo is available in at least one of the following formats:
PNG (high resolution)
EPS
SVG
PDF (vector)
If you’re not sure what you have, send it over and we can check it for you. If your artwork is too low quality, we can often rebuild or redraw simple logos for you.
3. Forgetting to Consider Subject‑Specific Needs
A common error is assuming one book layout suits every subject. In reality, each department often requires different formatting.
For example:
Maths needs squares or larger grids
English prefers lined pages with margin rulings
Science may want blank pages paired with lined pages for diagrams
SEN departments may need dyslexia‑friendly cream or coloured paper
Art requires thicker sketch paper
Schools who order one “generic” design sometimes realise too late that it does not meet curriculum requirements.
How to avoid it
We recommend:
Consulting department leads early
Viewing sample pages
Listing non‑negotiables for each subject
Creating bundles with multiple book formats if needed
Our design team can produce subject‑specific variations quickly, using your colours and branding consistently across all versions.
4. Ordering Too Late for September Delivery
This is a classic mistake. Every school in the UK wants their books delivered before the new school year begins, meaning production schedules get extremely busy from May to August.
Schools who order in in the summer term often risk:
longer production times
limited delivery windows
increased pressure on admin teams
rushed approval stages
How to avoid it
Place your order early, ideally between:
February and May for September delivery
September and November for January term replenishment
Once your artwork is approved, everything moves quickly, and we’ll keep you updated throughout.
5. Not Checking Proofs Thoroughly Before Approval
Perhaps the most avoidable issue is overlooking errors in:
spelling
ruling types
logo placement
custom inside pages
pagination
colour accuracy
subject names
year group labelling
Once a book goes to print, changes cannot be made without restarting the entire print run, which can cause delays and additional costs.
How to avoid it
We recommend:
asking two or three staff members to check the proof
viewing it on a large screen
double‑checking every subject’s version
reviewing staff‑provided content carefully
comparing proofs with your original brief
Our proofing system makes reviewing simple and clear, but thorough checks on the school side make the biggest difference.
Bonus Tips to Make Your Order Go Even Smoother
If you want your custom books to be perfect first time, here are extra tips schools find helpful.
Build Consistency Across Year Groups
Even if each subject has its own layout, keeping:
colours
logos
margins
footer details
consistent across all books creates a unified and professional look.
Consider Including School Values or Behaviour Expectations
Many schools now add:
behaviour policies
marking codes
reading logs
target sheets
reward systems
online safety reminders
This turns your exercise book into a versatile learning tool that supports routines and expectations every day.
Think About Durability
Laminated covers and sturdier bindings, such as Clarkeprint’s four staple binding, last the full school year, especially in KS3 and KS4. It is worth upgrading if your books are used intensively or live at the bottom of lively Year 9 backpacks.
Make Books SEN Friendly
Options include:
cream or off‑white pages
pastel-coloured covers
larger spacing
dyslexia‑friendly fonts
visual prompts
uncluttered layouts
These small adjustments can make a huge difference for neurodiverse students.
Order Spare Packs
Schools often regret not ordering extras for:
new starters
students transferring between sets
stock replacements
unexpected increases in class sizes
Having spares prevents last‑minute panic.
Final Thoughts
Avoiding the common mistakes when ordering custom exercise books UK schools rely on is simple once you know what to look out for. Whether it is planning early, gathering the right artwork, checking proofs properly or thinking carefully about subject needs, a bit of preparation makes the process smooth and stress free.
At Clarkeprint BespokeExerciseBooks.co.uk, we are here to guide you through every step. From design support to proofing and delivery, our team makes sure your exercise books arrive looking professional, consistent and fully aligned with your school’s needs.
Please get in touch for a free design consultation.
Q&A – Common Questions About Ordering Custom Exercise Books
How early should we order custom exercise books?
Ideally between February and May for September delivery, as this is the busiest season for UK schools preparing for the new academic year.
What format should our school logo be in?
High‑resolution PNG, SVG, EPS or vector PDF files print best. Avoid screenshots or low‑quality images.
Can we customise books for different subjects?
Yes. You can create variations for maths, English, science, art, SEN and more, all using consistent branding.
Do you offer design help?
Absolutely. Our team provides full design support, including layout suggestions, ruling samples and cover options.
How do we check proofs?
We send a digital proof for you to review. You should check spelling, colours, page layout and subject labels carefully before approval.
How do we start the ordering process?
Contact the Clarkeprint Bespoke Exercise Books team on 0121 454 7117 or at ebteam@clarkeprint.co.uk