School supplies in Highgate

Autumn is in the air, bringing with it the unmistakable aromas of mists, mellow fruitfulness and monstrous school shopping lists. If you're in a last-minute lather about the last week of August being upon us, never fear - Highgate People can help you find your school essentials locally!

School Uniform

Specialist school outfitters are thin on the ground in Highgate, but we've heard good reports about nearby Braggs, based in Woodside Park, North Finchley. Naturally, the shop has specialist ranges for its local Barnet schools, but also stocks a range of uniform basics, including skirts, shirts, trousers, jumpers, blazers, winter coats and PE kits.

Head up the Northern Line to Woodside Park station or take a bus to Tally Ho Corner to find the store - opening hours are 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 4pm on Sundays.

If you need a particular uniform and can't head up to N12, try the online school outfitters uniform4kids.com, also based in Finchley. This handy retailer has both specialist ranges (it's the recommended stockist for independent Highgate School) and generic uniform items.

Highgate Wood School introduced a uniform for Years 7 - 10 last year; uniform items including the school blazer and jumper can be purchased from the school office.

Books and stationery

For pens, pencils, notebooks, diaries, rulers, protractors, erasers and pencil cases to put them all in, try Highgate Stationers at 7, Highgate High Street. HP Darvill on Archway Road also has stationery supplies for lesson notes and homework.

Highgate has a number of bookshops: Fisher and Sperr specialise in rare and secondhand books, whereas Highgate Bookshop on the high street has a larger range of fiction, non-fiction and study guides.

Transition to secondary school

Islington dwellers on a low income could benefit from Islington Council's school uniform grant

of £150, available to help with the costs of

children moving from primary to secondary school this September. For

more information, contact Islington Council on 020 7527 5483. Haringey residents should see this page for information about clothing grants.

Image: Chris K