School Leavers Gifts — A Teacher's Complete Guide to End of Year Keyrings, Medals and Awards

End of year is one of the most rewarding times to be a teacher — and one of the most logistically demanding. You want to give every child something meaningful that acknowledges the year, marks the milestone, and fits a budget that usually comes out of your own pocket. This guide covers every type of personalised school leaver gift we make, explains the differences between them, and helps you work out what's right for your class, your budget, and your timeline.

When should I order?

This is the question most teachers get wrong. End of year gifts are made to order — each one is individually laser-engraved with the child's name. That takes time, and as July approaches, production queues build up across every school gifts supplier.

The safe answer: order by the end of May for a late June or early July presentation. Orders placed in mid-June are often fine, but you're relying on production being on schedule and no unforeseen delays. Orders placed in the final week of June are risky. Your estimated dispatch date is shown at checkout before you commit — check it carefully and contact us if you have a specific presentation date in mind.

What information do you need to provide?

For most products, you need a list of names — one per line in the personalisation box, or uploaded as a spreadsheet for larger orders. Some products also support a year group (e.g. "Class of 2026"), a school name, or a short message. Each product page explains exactly what's needed.

For orders of 10 or more, the spreadsheet upload on each product page is the most reliable way to submit names accurately. Download our names template here — fill in one name per row and upload at checkout.

Keyrings — the most popular choice

Keyrings are the staple school leaver gift. They're practical, personal, durable, and affordable enough to give one to every child in the class. We make them in oak veneered MDF and birch plywood, in a wide range of shapes and designs.

Which keyring for which occasion?

For Year 6 leavers going to secondary school
The keyring becomes genuinely useful the moment they start secondary school and get a locker or carry a bag independently. A personalised name keyring they can put on their new school bag is both sentimental and practical. The Class Of Keyring adds a year group alongside the name, which many teachers prefer for a leaver's gift specifically.

For end of term or end of year (any year group)
Simpler name keyrings work well here. The Personalised Student Keyrings are the most popular — clean, compact, name engraved on the front. Available in several shapes.

For a budget class gift
The Birch or Oak School Student Keyrings and Alphabet Keyrings are among the most affordable in the range. For very tight budgets, the phone-shaped keyrings — Teddy Bear, Smiley Face, Class Of, You're a Star — are a fun, distinctive option and very cost-effective in bulk.

For something a bit different
The Rabbit Keyring is popular with primary teachers wanting something that feels more playful and less generic. The You're a Star Keyring comes in two sizes and has a motivational feel that works well as a leaving gift.

Bulk discounts on keyrings

Discounts apply automatically at checkout — no code needed. At 20+ units: 10% off. At 50+: 15% off. At 100+: 20% off. A class of 30 pupils at 20+ qualifies for the first discount tier automatically. A year group of 60+ qualifies for 15% off.

The You're a Star range

We make several products specifically around the "You're a Star" theme, which has become a popular way to acknowledge individual achievement without singling anyone out — every child gets one, but each is personalised with their name.

• You're a Star Class Of Keyring — name and year group, compact keyring format
• You're a Star Keyring — two sizes, name engraved, star motif
• You're a Star Wooden Medal — star-shaped oak medal, personalised with name. A step up from a keyring for special recognition
• You're a Star Hug Token — a small round token, personalised with name. Sits in a pocket or pencil case. Popular as a gentle keepsake rather than a functional keyring

Medals and awards

For year groups where you want to make more of a ceremony of it, or for specific achievement recognition, our wooden medals are a step above a keyring. They're laser-engraved oak, shaped and designed to feel like a proper award.

For fun leavers presentations

• Congratulations You Passed | No More School — the most popular leaver's medal, with a fun graduation-style design
• Passed Your Exams | Graduation Hat Design — suits older year groups who've just sat exams
• No More Studying | Exam Certificate Design — another fun option for older leavers

For genuine achievement recognition

• You're a Star Wooden Medal — personalised with the child's name, star-shaped, feels like a proper award
• Budget School Medals | 40mm Oak with Lanyard — a more economical medal option that still engraves cleanly, with a string lanyard included. Good for sports days, reading challenges and attendance awards

Hug tokens

The You're a Star Hug Token is a small round wooden disc — personalised with the child's name. It's designed to sit in a pocket or pencil case rather than on a keyring. Teachers use them as a gentle, low-key keepsake — something the child can hold onto without it being conspicuous. Popular for younger year groups and for children who might find a leaving assembly emotionally difficult.

Recognition baubles

The Personalised Student Recognition Bauble is an oak Christmas bauble personalised with the child's name and year. It's specifically designed as an end of year keepsake — something the child can put on the Christmas tree at home and keep for years. Works well for Year 6 leavers where the gift is meant to last beyond the school years.

Teacher appreciation signs

Not every end of year gift goes from teacher to pupil. The Personalised Teacher Appreciation Sign is a hanging oak sign personalised with the teacher's name and a message — a gift from a class, PTA, or parent group to a departing or retiring teacher. A more lasting alternative to a card.

Choosing between oak and birch

Most of our school gifts are made from 4mm oak veneered MDF — real oak veneer on an MDF core. It engraves with consistent, dark contrast and a warm natural colour. A small number of products are available in birch plywood, which is slightly lighter in colour and marginally more affordable. Both are durable, both laser-engrave cleanly, and both are suitable for indoor use. If you're ordering a large quantity and cost is a factor, the birch options are worth considering.

Ordering for a whole year group vs a single class

Single class orders (typically 25–32 children) are straightforward — list all names in the personalisation box, one per line, or use the spreadsheet upload. The 20+ bulk discount applies automatically.

Whole year group orders (60–120+ children across multiple classes) are best handled by uploading a spreadsheet. If different classes want different wording or designs, place separate orders per class. For very large orders or multi-school academy orders, contact us before ordering and we can advise on the best approach.

What about PTA funded gifts?

Many schools fund end of year gifts through the PTA or school budget rather than individual teachers. If you're ordering on behalf of a PTA or school, the process is the same — bulk discounts apply from 20 units, and we can provide an invoice for school records if needed. Contact us if you need VAT receipts or formal order documentation.

Summary — which product for which situation

• Year 6 leavers, primary school — Class Of Keyring or You're a Star Class Of Keyring
• End of term, any year group — Personalised Student Keyrings
• Tight budget, whole class — Birch or Oak Student Keyrings or phone-shaped keyrings
• Fun leavers assembly, older pupils — Congratulations You Passed Medal
• Achievement recognition, any age — You're a Star Medal
• Gentle keepsake, younger pupils — You're a Star Hug Token
• Lasting keepsake, Year 6 — Student Recognition Bauble
• Gift for a departing teacher — Teacher Appreciation Sign