5 Mistakes to Avoid When Ordering Leavers Hoodies

We offer a range of Class of 2026 leavers hoodie design ideas

Ordering leavers hoodies should be one of the most enjoyable and meaningful projects of the year. Yet schools across the UK often face the same problems: wrong sizes, delays, poor communication, or a disappointing final product. These mistakes ordering UK leavers hoodies schools encounter can create stress for staff, unhappy parents and a less‑than‑perfect end to students’ time at school.

At Wave Ed, we help hundreds of schools avoid these issues every year. Our goal is to make the process simple, clear and reliable, while ensuring the finished hoodies look fantastic and arrive on time.

Below, we break down the most common mistakes and how to prevent them, including how our service removes these problems entirely.

Why Schools Make Mistakes When Ordering Leavers Hoodies

Staff often juggle hoodie orders alongside parent comms, trips, exams, residentials and day‑to‑day school life. Add multiple sizes, design choices, payments and deadlines, and things can quickly become overwhelming.

Mistakes usually happen because:

• communication between school, parents and suppliers becomes muddled

• key decisions are rushed

• order data is collected inconsistently

• students change their minds

• suppliers lack structure or clarity

The good news? All of this can be avoided with a well‑managed process.

The 5 Biggest Mistakes When Ordering Leavers Hoodies (And How We Help You Avoid Them)

Leavers hoodies have become a staple requirement for UK secondary schools

1. Choosing the Wrong Size Mix

One of the biggest issues schools face is size accuracy. When students guess sizes, or schools rely on “small/medium/large” rather than actual measurements, mistakes happen. And no one wants a Year 11 student drowning in a hoodie that looks like it belongs to a PE cupboard.

How to avoid it

At Leavers Clothing, we make sizing simple:

• clear measurement charts for every hoodie style

• student‑friendly explanations on how to measure

• optional size sample sets for schools

This ensures you place the correct order and students get hoodies they genuinely love wearing.

2. Ordering Too Late

Leaving hoodie orders until spring or early summer is a classic mistake. By that time:

• production queues are long

• delivery slots fill up

• parents chase for updates

• leavers assemblies or trips loom dangerously close

How we help you beat the rush

We provide:

• recommended ordering timelines

• early‑bird email templates to send to parents

• clear production and delivery windows

• priority processing options

Most schools start hoodie planning between October and February. The earlier the better!

3. Poor Quality Artwork or Unclear Design Choices

Schools sometimes send logo artwork that is too small or ask for layout options without a clear vision. This often leads to back‑and‑forth revisions, delays, and (in some cases) designs that do not print cleanly.

How we prevent this

We provide:

• professionally created leavers hoodie designs

• the classic year e.g. 25 or 26 leavers number filled with names

• full custom options, including school logos

• high‑resolution printing standards

• a free visual proof for approval before anything goes to print

You do not need to be a designer. We take care of everything.

View design options:
https://www.leavers-clothing.co.uk/secondary-hoodie-design

4. Complicated Payment and Order Collection

Collecting hoodie orders internally can be a nightmare:

• envelopes of cash

• parents paying late

• guessing who has ordered what

• handwritten spreadsheets

• endless chasing

This is one of the most stressful mistakes ordering UK leavers hoodies schools report to us.

How we fix this instantly

We set up a private online shop for your school. Parents order directly, choose their size, colour and personalisation, and pay securely.

Your school does not have to:

• handle money

• chase orders

• update spreadsheets

• decipher handwriting

• manage multiple requests

You simply get a tidy final order list when the shop closes. Easy.

5. Using a Supplier Without Clear Communication

Poor communication is the root of most stress with hoodie orders. Unanswered emails, missed deadlines, vague pricing or sudden surprises can derail the entire project.

How we prevent this

We provide:

• a dedicated project coordinator

• clear, honest pricing from the start

• written timelines

• prompt responses

• a guaranteed proofing and approval process

You always know exactly what to expect and when to expect it.

Extra Tips for a Smooth Leavers Hoodie Ordering Experience

Ask students about colours early

Different year groups have different preferences. Some love bold colours, others prefer neutrals. Gathering opinions early helps avoid last‑minute changes.

Keep communication simple

Use a single information sheet for parents covering:

• price

• sizing

• deadlines

• personalisation options

• shop link

We can help you create this.

Check spelling carefully

Names inside the leavers number are iconic. Make sure they are spelled correctly. A quick check at school prevents embarrassment on hoodie day.

Plan enough time for distribution

If you have 150 hoodies arriving, make sure you have:

• classroom space

• a few staff helpers

Fortuntely we provide:

• Clearly labelled and bagged hoodies to prevent mix ups

• A list of who ordered what to help with distribution

We label each hoodie clearly to help you hand them out with zero fuss.

Order a few spares

Schools almost always wish they had ordered 2 to 4 spare hoodies for:

• students who join late

• misplaced orders

• last‑minute parent decisions

This avoids disappointment (and panicked emails).

Final Thoughts

Avoiding the most common mistakes ordering leavers hoodies UK schools struggle with is simple when you work with the right supplier. At Wave Ed, we make the entire process smooth, stress‑free and structured, with quality hoodies students genuinely treasure.

You get:

• professional designs

• easy ordering

• reliable timelines

• a private online shop

• friendly UK‑based support

• top‑quality hoodies that last years

If you would like help setting up your project, our team is always here to guide you.

Q&A - Common Questions About Ordering Leavers Hoodies

When should we start ordering leavers hoodies?

Most schools begin between October and February. Early ordering guarantees stock availability and stress‑free delivery.

Can you manage the whole ordering process for us?

Yes, we provide an online shop where parents order and pay directly. It removes all admin from school staff.

What if parents order the wrong size?

We provide a detailed sizing guide and sample sets to prevent incorrect choices. Clear measurement instructions ensure accuracy.

Do you provide a proof before printing?

Yes. We send a digital mock‑up of your design for approval. Nothing goes to print until the school signs it off.

How long does delivery take?

This varies by season, but we always give clear production timelines and guaranteed delivery windows.

Can we personalise each hoodie?

Absolutely. You can add student names, initials, nicknames and optional extras depending on your chosen design.