Year 13 Leavers Shirt Ideas: 40 Things to Write

6 min read · Aura

The best year 13 leavers shirt ideas are short, personal and readable at a glance: an inside joke, a memory from a specific lesson, a funny nickname or one honest line like "Sixth form wouldn't have been the same without you." Mix funny and sentimental, sign your name so they know who wrote it, and leave space for everyone else. Here are 40 things to write, plus design and signing tips.

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How leavers shirts work

Leavers shirts are a UK tradition on the last day of Year 11 or Year 13. Everyone wears a plain white shirt (school shirt or T-shirt), and friends write messages all over it in permanent marker. In the US and Canada, it's similar to senior shirt signing or grad shirt signing in grade 12.

The basics:

• Shirt: a white school shirt or cheap white T-shirt. Size up so there's more space.
• Pens: fabric markers or permanent markers. Bring several colors to share.
• Ask first: "Can I sign your shirt?" is polite, especially on the front.
• Keep it kind: this is a keepsake. Avoid anything you wouldn't want their parents to read.
• Leave space: don't take up the whole back with one giant drawing.

Some year groups also get matching year 13 leavers hoodies with everyone's names on the back. Those are ordered in advance through school or a printing company.

Funny things to write (1 to 14)

Funny things to write on leavers shirts, best when they're about something real:

1. "Thanks for the homework answers. All of them."
2. "Still don't know your actual name, [nickname]."
3. "You owe me £2 from Year 9."
4. "Free periods were never free with you around."
5. "See you at the reunion. Bald."
6. "Sorry about [specific incident]. Not really."
7. "Most likely to become famous for the wrong reasons."
8. "Remember [teacher]'s face when [moment]?"
9. "I'll miss your terrible jokes. Mostly."
10. "Certified common room menace."
11. "Thanks for teaching me nothing in maths."
12. "You were the group chat's whole personality."
13. Draw a terrible portrait and label it "you, accurate."
14. "Don't forget me when you're rich. Or do, I'll find you."

Leavers shirts ideas for boys

Guys often go for banter: a nickname, a football joke, a "rating" ("10/10 lad, would sit next to again"), or a mock league table of who was always late. Keep it banter, not cruel.

Sentimental things to write (15 to 26)

Leavers shirt messages that'll make someone look back on it in ten years and smile:

15. "Sixth form wouldn't have been the same without you."
16. "Thank you for always being there in free periods."
17. "You made the bad days better."
18. "So proud of you. Go smash it."
19. "Never change. Okay, maybe your music taste."
20. "From [first memory] to today. What a journey."
21. "I'm going to miss seeing you every day."
22. "Whatever's next, you've got this."
23. "Thanks for being kind when you didn't have to be."
24. "Stay in touch. I mean it."
25. "Best seat buddy for two years straight."
26. A short year 13 leavers quote, like "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

Things to write for a best friend (27 to 34)

Your best friend's shirt deserves the best spot (front, near the collar or a sleeve) and something only you would write:

27. Your most-used inside joke, with no explanation.
28. "Day one. Last day. Every day after."
29. A tiny drawing of the two of you.
30. A list of "our top 5 moments."
31. "Same uni or I riot."
32. A screenshot-worthy quote from your group chat.
33. "You're stuck with me. Sorry."
34. The date you met, and today's date.

If you're nervous about the moment itself (asking people, saying goodbye, going up to someone you haven't spoken to much), that's really common. The last day is emotional and everyone's slightly overwhelmed.

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Design and layout ideas (35 to 38)

A few leavers shirt design ideas so your shirt looks good in photos, not just chaotic:

35. Pre-write a header. Put "Class of 2027" or "Year 13 Leavers" across the back in big letters before the day.
36. Zone it. Front for best friends, back for everyone, sleeves for teachers.
37. Bring colors. One marker per friend group, or a rainbow of signatures.
38. Leave the collar for something special, like your best friend or your form tutor.

After the day: don't wash it. Hang it, frame it or fold it into a memory box. Some people iron the back of the ink first, but if it's a keepsake, it's safest never washed.

Year 11 leavers shirt ideas (39 to 40)

Year 11 leavers shirt ideas are similar, but younger and often more chaotic, since lots of people go to different sixth forms or colleges.

39. "See you at sixth form... or not." Perfect for friends splitting up.
40. "Good luck at college, don't forget us."

More Year 11 ideas:

• "GCSEs survived. Barely."
• "From Year 7 to now. We made it."
• "You better text me every day this summer."

If you're moving on after Year 11, our list of questions to ask at sixth form open evening helps you pick the right place. And for Year 13s heading off, see what to do the summer before uni.

Leave on a high, not on a cringe

Year 13 leavers shirt ideas are the easy part; walking up to people and saying goodbye with confidence is the bit you'll remember. In the next minute Aura asks 16 questions, gives you an aura tier and a 14-move plan for your leak, plus a streak and a share card. It's a one-time payment with nothing to cancel.

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FAQ

What should I write on a Year 13 leavers shirt?

Write something short and personal: an inside joke, a shared memory, a nickname or a kind line like "Sixth form wouldn't have been the same without you." Always sign your name so they know who it's from.

What are funny things to write on leavers shirts?

Inside jokes, fake ratings ("10/10 seat buddy"), playful callbacks ("You still owe me £2 from Year 9") and terrible drawings labeled as accurate portraits. Keep it banter, not mean, since it's a keepsake.

What pens are best for signing leavers shirts?

Fabric markers or permanent markers work best. Thin tips are good for lots of messages, while thick ones work for big headers. Bring a few colors to share.

What are good Year 11 leavers shirt ideas?

Messages about moving on work well: "See you at sixth form... or not," "GCSEs survived," or "From Year 7 to now." Draw quick doodles and add your future college or school.

What are good year 13 leavers quotes?

Classics include "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" and "Not goodbye, just see you later." Short, personal lines usually mean more than famous quotes, though.