Penstripe Blog

Keep up to date with our product releases and supporting advice to make your Student Planner, Teacher Planner and Exercise Book experience a great one.

Dig in to the posts below for insights

Managing Multiple Classes: The Ultimate Teacher Planner Guide

Teaching can be incredibly rewarding, but juggling multiple subjects and multi-class lesson planning requires serious organisation. To keep your teacher productivity rates up and stress levels down when teaching across different grades and subjects, you need a comprehensive system for class scheduling, lesson planning, student management and performance tracking. A customisable …

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Head Teacher Planner: Leading with Organised Excellence

As a school leader, your responsibilities are vast and varied. From overseeing daily operations and educational administration to shaping school policy and governance, the tasks on a head teacher's agenda seem never-ending. Effective educational leadership requires vision, strategy and innovation to guide your school to excellence. With so much on your …

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Digital Planners vs Physical Planners: What’s Best for Students?

Schools are always looking for ways to help students get organised and student planners are a classic tool. But with technology constantly evolving, figuring out the best format – physical or digital – can be tricky. Should schools follow a traditional approach, embrace the digital space, or find a way to …

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Maximising Productivity with Student Planners

Juggling the demands of student life is no easy feat. Staying productive can prove challenging between classes, assignments, exams and extracurriculars vying for learners’ attention. A well-thought-out student planner becomes an essential tool to help organise everything on their plate. Using a student planner provides the tools for study schedule optimisation …

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How to Effectively Use a Planner for Exam Preparation

Exams are an integral and often challenging part of a student's journey. However, with the right approach, they don’t have to be overwhelming. With the right exam preparation planner, students can stay organised, create a winning study routine and confidently approach exams. Academic success with planners isn't just a buzzword – …

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How Student Planners Enhance Collaboration Among Educators

Teaching can often feel like an isolating profession with limited opportunities to connect with colleagues. However, productive collaboration with other school staff is pivotal for unlocking student potential. Student planners present invaluable tools for promoting teamwork by streamlining communication channels and alignment under a shared system. The Value of Teacher Collaboration Quality collaboration …

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The Role of Student Planners in Long-Term Curriculum Development

In today’s rapidly changing world, education can no longer just be about academics. Schools have a responsibility to develop the whole student – fostering the skills and mindsets students need to thrive personally and professionally long after school. This holistic approach calls for a shift in curriculum design that is more …

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The Fun Side of Planning: Using Teacher Planner Stickers

Teaching is a profession with many demands, which is why having an organised teacher planner is key. But planner organisation doesn’t have to be boring! By incorporating fun embellishments like stickers, you can add some joy to your teacher planning while staying on top of your responsibilities. The Perks of Planning …

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How Student Planners Help with Stress Management

Balancing school, extracurriculars and a social life can be overwhelmingly stressful for students. With so many responsibilities competing for time and attention, it's easy to feel disorganised and anxious. Fortunately, there is a readily available solution: the student planner. We unpack just how these planners can help relieve stress, boost mental …

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A Sixth Form Student’s Guide to Effective Planning and Organisation

Juggling classes, assignments, exams, extracurriculars and a social life makes sixth form a whirlwind experience. With so many balls in the air, developing organisational skills is crucial to staying on top of everything. This guide will equip sixth-formers with practical strategies to take control of their workload through improved planning and …

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From High School to University: The Transformative Power of Student Planners

University life comes with its fair share of challenges – from overwhelming workloads and tight deadlines to adjusting to independent living away from home. Without proper planning and organisation, it’s easy for students to feel stressed, fall behind on assignments, and underperform academically. This is where a student planner becomes your …

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Mastering the Art of Student Planner Creation: A Teacher’s Guide to Pain-Free Planning

Creating content and artwork for your school’s student planner can be a daunting task, often met with sighs and groans. However, fear not! In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of designing an engaging and functional student planner, with a focus on making the journey enjoyable …

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Wire Binding vs Plastic Binding for Student Planners – Why Wire Wins Every Time

Wire binding and plastic coil binding are both popular choices for binding student planners. However, we believe metal coil binding is the only solution a school should consider for a hard-wearing student planner that needs to last a full academic year. Here are the five advantages we believe should be considered …

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How to Make the Most of Summer with a Teacher Planner

The summer holidays: a time for rest, relaxation and…planning? For teachers, summer is not just about unwinding after a busy academic year. It's also the perfect opportunity to plan for the year ahead. A high-quality teacher planner can become your best companion during this time, assisting in both reflection and preparation. …

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What to Do When a Lesson Doesn’t Go to Plan

Teaching is an art, and like all artists, educators need a blueprint to guide their work. A detailed lesson plan is the compass that guides you in meeting your students’ learning objectives, planning activities and managing your time. But what happens when your lesson doesn’t go to plan? This is something …

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How to Plan the Perfect Lesson

Learning how to plan a lesson is a hugely important part of teaching. An effective lesson plan functions as a guide for both educators and students, detailing what is to be learned, how it will be taught, and how you’ll assess whether your objectives were met. Becoming a successful lesson planner …

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How Teacher Planners Can Help You Through an OFSTED Inspection

OFSTED visits are something that most UK schools will be intimately familiar with. Taking place over a period of two days, they are designed to thoroughly assess the quality of education on offer. One particularly useful tool that can help you through your OFSTED visit is the teacher planner. A quality …

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Why Choose a Personalised Teacher Planner?

As any experienced educator will agree, teacher planners are indispensable organisational tools. From planning lessons to recording meetings and tracking student progress, they play an essential role in any teacher's professional life. But what if you could augment these benefits with a personalised touch? Enter the bespoke teacher planner. Available in …

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Why Are Teaching Planners Vital for First Year Teachers?

Your first year of teaching is an exciting time marked with abundant learning opportunities, new experiences and challenges to overcome. As you navigate through this uncharted territory, planning and organisation will become your best ally. At the heart of every well-organised educator is the humble teacher planner. This is what you’ll …

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Accessibility in UK Schools: The Importance of Inclusive Signage

The conversation around accessibility has gained momentum in recent years, and rightly so. Schools across the UK are increasingly recognising the necessity of creating accessible environments for all students. One often overlooked yet essential aspect of this discussion is inclusive signage. This article explores why inclusive signage is crucial for …

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What Are the Benefits of Bespoke Student Planners?

Student planners are crucial tools that help students organise their academic life, keep track of responsibilities and foster effective learning habits. However, not all planners are created equal. Bespoke student planners offer a level of personalisation and functionality unmatched by generic options. They are customised according to the unique requirements and …

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How to Encourage Students to Use a Planner

In a world of digital distractions, the importance of physical student planners cannot be overstated. They are instrumental in teaching organisational skills, promoting time management, recording progress and fostering academic success. Planners serve as daily guides for students, providing them with the structure and support they need to excel. However, getting …

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How Do Student Planners Improve Home-School Communication?

Effective parent-teacher communication has many advantages. It can lead to increased parental involvement, a more comprehensive understanding of a student's strengths and challenges, and a stronger home-school partnership. These factors are crucial for students’ academic success. Student planners are one of the most helpful communication tools for schools and parents. They …

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What to Include in a Custom Student Planner

A good student planner is more than just a homework diary. It’s an invaluable tool to support, guide and instruct pupils, helping them to achieve success in everything they do. Bespoke student planners offer many advantages over unpersonalised options. With a range of layouts and custom pages to choose from, you …

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How Can Student Planners Help with Time Management?

Effective time management is crucial for students to succeed academically and maintain a healthy work-life balance. This article will explore how using a student planner or homework diary can significantly contribute to better time management and academic performance. Time Management Benefits of Using a Student Planner Organisation and Prioritisation - Student planners are …

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Do Children Need Student Planners for Primary School?

Student planners/homework diaries often used in secondary and higher education, are tools designed to help learners stay organised and manage their time more efficiently—but what about younger children? Can student planners help Key Stage 1 and 2 students, or is it too much to expect children of such a young …

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How to Teach Organisation in the Classroom

As students navigate through school, they are faced with tasks, assignments, and deadlines that can become overwhelming without proper organisational skills. Being organised allows students to prioritise their tasks, manage their time effectively, and stay on top of their academic responsibilities. Teaching organisation skills in the classroom can have a significant …

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How to Help Your Students Get the Most Out of Their Planners

Student planners are an essential tool for helping students stay organised and manage their workload effectively. These planners can be used to keep track of assignments, deadlines, and extracurricular activities, making them a valuable resource for any student looking to succeed in school. However, simply having a student planner is not …

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How to Organise Your Classroom for Success

As a teacher, you know that a well-organised classroom is essential for a successful school year. But with all the other demands on your time, it can be hard to know where to start. Never fear! We've got some easy tips to help you get your classroom in tip-top shape. 1. …

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How to Get Ready for a New School Term

After weeks of enjoying the summer holiday, you may find yourself lost in preparing for the grand return of a fresh new school term. From mentally preparing yourself to return to school term to ensuring you or your staff are fully equipped with all the necessary educational supplies to kickstart …

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Can OFSTED Check Teacher’s Planners?

The prospect of Oftsed inspectors visiting a school can be a tense time for all teachers and those who work within a school. Making sure everything is up to date and that students are achieving their targets for the year can be a stressful time, but Oftsed inspectors don’t officially …

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How Do School Planners Help Students? Top 5 Benefits to Pupils

Whether you’re new to teaching or a teaching professional that has years of experience, you may be wondering how school planners actually help your students in the classroom as well as at home. School diaries have developed over the years to include several features such as Study Skills sections, Wellbeing …

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What is a Homework Planner?

Homework planners (also known as student planners), are the perfect organisational tool for students, teachers and guardians as they provide seamless communication between key stakeholders. Research shows that homework planners and diaries can be an excellent way to keep learners motivated and on track with their out-of-school studies. But what exactly …

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The Qualities That Make a Good Teacher Great: Unlocking Your Teaching Potential

Are you an aspiring teacher looking to make a positive impact in the lives of your students? Or perhaps you're a seasoned educator seeking to enhance your teaching skills and effectiveness in the classroom? In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the essential qualities that make a good teacher great, helping you …

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How to Write an Effective Email to Your Teacher

Knowing how to email your teachers properly can make a big difference in your school life. Whether asking questions about assignments, requesting feedback, or scheduling a meeting, a well-written email shows respect and helps you get the needed information. Students struggle with finding the right tone – too casual can seem …

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Do I Need a Teacher Planner – How Can it Help?

As a teacher, staying organised is crucial for managing your classroom effectively and ensuring your students’ success. A well-designed teacher planner can be the perfect tool to help you stay on top of your tasks, lessons, and goals throughout the school year. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of using …

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What to Write in a Teacher Thank You Card

When it comes to teacher appreciation, sometimes the simplest gestures mean the most. A handwritten thank you card for a teacher is a simple way to show your gratitude for all they do during the school year. But what should you write in a teacher thank you card? Here are …

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Teacher Appreciation Day 2022

Teachers are a vital part of our society. They help mould the minds of children, who will eventually become the leaders of tomorrow. That's why Teacher Appreciation Day is so important! It's a day to show our teachers how much we appreciate all that they do for us. At Penstripe, …

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The Importance of Welcome Displays for Schools

Welcome displays for schools are not only highly practical in helping students, teachers, and visitors to locate the school by making it noticeable, but they are also a great way for visitors to be greeted upon entrance making a great first impression. Welcome displays are usually the first thing a visitor …

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Inspiring Students with School Wall Graphics

What are Wall Graphics Wall Graphics are large scale stickers made from durable vinyl, also known as wall decals or wall stickers. Wall graphics are useful for branding, signage, or decoration. They can be cut to any shape or size and printed in any design. There are a wide range of …

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The Ultimate Guide to Using a Teacher Planner Effectively

Are you a teacher looking to stay organised and on top of your lesson planning? A teacher planner can be an invaluable tool to help you manage your classroom, track student progress, and reduce stress. In this ultimate guide, we'll walk you through how to use a teacher planner effectively to …

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What to Include in a Teacher Planner

A well-designed teacher planner is the command centre for effective classroom management and instruction. Beyond scheduling, today's planning tools help teachers track student progress, manage responsibilities and maintain work-life balance. Below, we cover essential elements of a teacher planner that help improve productivity and reduce administrative stress, allowing you to focus …

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5 Tips to Save You Hours on Lesson Planning Time

As a teacher, you know how much time can be spent on lesson plans each week. But with the right strategies, you can quickly create engaging lessons for your students without sacrificing precious hours. In this article, we'll share 5 time-saving tips to help you streamline your lesson planning process …

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How to Improve Organisational Skills for Students

Being organised is an important part of school life for students, but sometimes this can suffer as they grow up. For some pupils, it’s an issue of actually starting to get organised, whereas for others they may struggle to maintain an organisational system. The benefits of being organised are proven, so …

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How to Teach a Growth Mindset in the Classroom

The ‘Growth Mindset’ has become a regular topic of conversation within schools, and it's a challenge for teachers to help their students fully grasp the concept. The Growth Mindset as it has come to be known, is the brainchild of social and developmental psychologist Dr Carol Dweck, who began studying …

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Greenfield Community College – Case Study

Each year a planner stands out, this year it was Greenfield’s. They’ve taken the premise of a student planner and turned it on its head. Why did they do this? To engage their peers, teachers and parents in the journey they are taking through education. Each page is thought through to make the experience …

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Five Ways Schools are Adapting Student Planners for a Post-Corona Classroom

Time will tell on how much the current enforced school closures influences the 20/21 academic year. For now, we can only hope things will be back to normality by then. We’re currently working with several our customers to adapt their student planners to make them broadly work for all eventualities …

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What is a Student Planner?

Student planners are a combination of many valuable educational tools and resources – all in a professionally designed, sturdy and logically laid-out in order to facilitate learning – not only academic but also social, such as codes of conduct, individual responsibility – and the value of education in an organised …

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Organising for the New Year of Teaching

As the festive season approaches, part of our mind is drawn to the wonderful and alluring festive culture. Family, friends, celebration and merriment over one of the most culturally entrenched festivals in the Western hemisphere. The other parts are rightfully looking forward to 2020, a year of new challenges, targets, goals …

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The Importance of Prioritising Student Wellbeing in Schools

Wellbeing is a critical aspect of every student's overall health and wellbeing, both during their time at school and beyond. Yet mental health issues among children and young people are on the rise. In this article, we'll explore why student wellbeing is important and should be a top priority for schools …

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