Leavers jerseys are the one piece of school clothing students actually want to wear, and the one order that reliably descends into chaos without a plan. Here’s how to run it properly, whether you’re a teacher, a parent, or the Year 12 student who got volunteered.
Pick a style the whole year group will wear
The classic options: a rugby-style knit jersey with the graduating year big on the back, a sublimated hoodie, or a lighter polo for warmer states. The knit jersey remains the favourite because it photographs well, survives being worn for the next decade, and looks like a keepsake rather than merch.
Names, nicknames, and the approval step
Every student gets their name or nickname on the back, and every year one nickname nearly gets the whole order pulled. Set the rule early: the school signs off the full name list before it goes to the supplier. Build a shared spreadsheet, give students a hard deadline, and have a teacher review it in one sitting. This single step saves weeks.
The timeline that actually works
- Term 2: collect design ideas, get quotes, pick a supplier
- Early Term 3: finalise design, collect sizes and names, school signs off
- Mid Term 3: order placed, payment collected
- Early Term 4: jerseys arrive, everyone wears them everywhere for six weeks straight
Order in Term 4 and you’re paying rush fees and praying. Order in Term 3 and it’s easy.
Keeping the price fair for every family
At full year-group quantities, leavers jerseys usually land between $55 and $85 each. Collect payment before ordering, not after, and add two or three spare jerseys to the order for late enrolments or mishaps. SACUL, a Sydney-based custom apparel supplier operating since 2005, produces leavers jerseys for schools across Australia with free design concepts and a single point of contact for the whole order.
Frequently asked questions
Typically $55 to $85 per jersey at year-group quantities, with the price falling as numbers rise. Hoodie and polo alternatives sit in a similar range.
By mid Term 3. Production takes four to six weeks, and Term 4 celebrations arrive faster than anyone expects.
Yes, individual names or approved nicknames are standard. The key is collecting the final, school-approved list in one spreadsheet before the order is placed.