Crossword Genius

Bit of equipment from school gym caught in zip (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pencil

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'bit of equipment from school' is the definition.
'pencil' can be an answer for 'school' (thesaurus). I am unsure of the 'bit of equipment from' bit.

'gym caught in zip' is the wordplay.
'gym' becomes 'pe' (short for Physical Education).
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'zip' becomes 'nil' (both can mean zero).
'c' going into 'nil' is 'ncil'.
'pe'+'ncil'='PENCIL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pencil that I've seen before include "Writing tool" , "Drawing instrument" , "__-sharpener" , "Graphite writer" , "A writing stick" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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