Back to school always sneaks up in January. One minute it's Christmas, the next you're standing in a shop with a booklist, a tired kid and no idea whether they need a 20L or 30L bag.
I'm Deanna, one of the two sisters behind Spixal. I've been packing school bags and lunch boxes for over 20 years, from my eldest's first day of school to my youngest in high school now. This is the back to school checklist I actually use, sorted by what matters and by school stage, so you can tick it off in one go.
Short on time? Everything on this list lives in our back to school shop.
The quick back to school checklist
Bags and carry
- ☐ School bag sized for their stage (see school bags)
- ☐ Library bag for library books and home readers
- ☐ Magnetic hat clip so the school hat stays on the bag
Lunch
- ☐ Leakproof lunch box your child can open on their own (see kids lunch boxes)
- ☐ Insulated lunch bag that fits inside the backpack
- ☐ Snack boxes for recess and Crunch and Sip
- ☐ Water bottle, around 750ml for a school day
- ☐ Ice brick for hot days
- ☐ Insulated food jar for warm lunches in winter
- ☐ Cutlery set if they take pasta, yoghurt or leftovers
Classroom
- ☐ Pencil case big enough for the booklist
- ☐ Everything on the school booklist (pencils, glue sticks, exercise books, headphones)
- ☐ Laptop or tablet if your school runs a BYOD program
Uniform and the rest
- ☐ Uniform, jumper and sports uniform
- ☐ School shoes and sports shoes
- ☐ Broad-brim school hat and sunscreen
- ☐ Name labels on everything
- ☐ Spare clothes in the bag (for little ones)
Back to school list by stage
Starting school: Kindergarten, Prep, Reception, Pre-primary or Transition
Your child's first year is about independence. Choose gear they can manage on their own.
- Backpack: small and light, sitting above the hips. A bold print helps them spot it on the hook. Our Junior backpacks weigh 400g.
- Lunch box: an easy-open bento such as the Duo, with a 1-clip lid and a small food jar.
- Lunch bag: a matching insulated lunch bag, so it's obvious whose is whose.
- Extras: a pencil case, a drink bottle they can open, and a hat clip.
The easiest option is a backpack and lunch bag bundle. For more detail, see what kids starting school actually need in a backpack.
Primary school (Years 1 to 6)
- Backpack: room for lunch, a drink bottle, a library bag and a jumper. The Axis kids backpack comes with a matching pencil case and library bag as a bundle.
- Lunch box: a 6-compartment Roundie or a silicone bento, plus snack boxes for recess.
- Lunch bag: a Commute lunch bag that fits inside the backpack.
- Hot lunches: an insulated food jar for Terms 2 and 3.
Our School Day Complete Sets sort the whole lunch kit at once.
High school (Years 7 to 12)
- Backpack: a laptop sleeve, padded straps and room for textbooks. See high school bags.
- Lunch: teens eat more. A 1200ml stainless steel Core lunch box or an 800ml food jar handles a big appetite.
- Organisation: a library bag or folder keeps books and homework together inside the bag.
- Classroom: a laptop for BYOD schools and a calculator if it's on the booklist.
Comparing backpacks? Read Daily vs Flex vs Momentum vs Commute.
How to choose the right school bag
- Fit: the bag should sit between the shoulders and the hips, not hang low.
- Weight: a light bag leaves room for what goes in it.
- Straps: padded, adjustable, and worn on both shoulders.
- Space: it needs to fit the lunch bag, drink bottle, library bag and a jumper.
Our guide to choosing a school backpack by age and stage goes into sizes.
Get the lunch side sorted
A good lunch kit saves you every single morning. Look for a lunch box with separate compartments, a lid your child can open, and a lunch bag that keeps it cool until the bell. Our back to school lunchbox checklist covers it step by step.
My tips for a calmer first week
- Shop early. November and December beat the January rush, and colours sell out.
- Practise at home. Let your child open their lunch box, drink bottle and bag zips before day one.
- Label everything. Hats, jumpers and drink bottles go missing first.
- Give everything a place. Lunch bag in the same spot, hat on the clip, library bag in the back. It's the rule I live by: everything has a place, and everything's in its place.
- Pack the night before. Mornings are for getting out the door.
FAQs
What do I need to buy for back to school?
A school bag, lunch box, insulated lunch bag, water bottle, snack boxes, pencil case, library bag, hat clip and school hat, plus uniform, shoes and the stationery on your school's booklist. Label everything.
When should I start back to school shopping?
November or December. You beat the January rush, popular colours are still in stock, and your child has the holidays to get used to their new bag and lunch box.
What does a child starting school need?
A backpack that sits above the hips, a lunch box they can open on their own, a lunch bag, a water bottle, a hat and a spare set of clothes. Practise opening the lunch box and drink bottle before day one.
What should be on a high school supplies list?
A backpack with a laptop sleeve, a laptop if your school runs a BYOD program, a bigger lunch box or insulated food jar, a pencil case, a scientific calculator if listed, and folders or a library bag to keep books organised.
How do I make back to school cheaper?
Reuse what still works, buy bundles instead of single pieces, choose gear that lasts more than one year, and check your school's booklist so you only buy what's asked for.
Ready to tick it off?
School bags, lunch boxes, lunch bags, drink bottles, pencil cases and hat clips, all designed to work together. Shop back to school.
Less chaos, more calm.