A NEW school year is about to start - and at least ten per cent of children will breathe a sigh of relief, according to stationery firm Staples, because they see school as a way of relieving the boredom of the holidays.

The survey, conducted by Staples among 10-14-year-olds, showed that, when it came to school stuff, 75 per cent of pupils chose their stationery based on how funky it is.

To make sure mums and dads bought products with pupil appeal, 85 per cent said they went with parents on back-to-school shopping trips.

The shops are already full of essentials for the new school year from school wear and stationery to books and bags.

Staples stock a range of items from pens and calculators to revision software.

Look out for their good value Back to School Essentials backpack, which contains a geometry set, pen, automatic pencil, coloured pencils, A4 lined pad, 6in plastic ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener and zipped pencil case, all for £5.99.

A ten-piece Back to School pack from Uni-ball includes a value-for-money assortment of rollerball pens in several colours, plus a clickable lead pencil with an eraser, for £9.99.

Also available free in this selection are three new trial pens, worth over £6, including the Powertank pen, which writes upside down and on wet paper.

BHS, Debenhams, Woolworths and Marks and Spencer have a good selection of skirts, shirts, trousers, jumpers and sweatshirts.