HELP!!! Maths Textbook use in private schools

[byroniks]

Does anyone know what Maths textbook does secondary private schools use?

[MoggyP]

Depends on the school, doesn't it?

Also, do you mean the KS3 years, the GCSE course, or sixth form?

[DavidWainwrightsFeet]

Depends what GCSE syllabus they're doing.

[byroniks]

MoggyP, it's for KS3 years.

[byroniks]

DavidWainwrightsFeet
for KS3

[NicknameUsed]

Ask the school

[titchy]

Does any school use maths textbooks these days?! I'd hope they'd have bought an online resource like MyMaths.

[NicknameUsed]

DD's school never used textbooks for anything except when she was doing English lit GCSE. Everything else was online. And they used MyMaths as well.

[Badbadbunny]

Just ask your child to make a note of whatever text books are used in class and then you can buy your own copy. That's what we've done and it has made a massive difference to our son as he can now do his homework and revision properly with the right book in front of him rather than waste hours googling and then ending up either going too detailed or not detailed enough. And yes, his school do have some online text books, but my son prefers a paper book - the online text books are often nothing more than a pdf image of the paper book, so you have to constantly change sizes, swivel your screen etc just to read it, -screens are landscape, books are portrait! And then you find the text refers to a picture or diagram on the next page, so you're flicking between pages on the screen, whereas the book itself was designed to be viewed with two open pages at a time. There are very few online textbooks which are actually written for viewing on the screen. If you can't find out the exact books they are using, then an excellent "all rounder" is the CGP series - just make sure you get the right one for the level (and exam board if GCSE or A) as they produce multiple variations to cover different levels and boards.

[user1474361571]

Does any school use maths textbooks these days?! I'd hope they'd have bought an online resource like MyMaths.

Why do think MyMaths is better than a comprehensive maths textbook? (I don't and I work in maths.)

[Seeline]

DD uses the New National Framework books for Y7 and Y8 (Higher level) They were recommended the CGP revision book for KS3 as well.
I can't remember what DS used for Y7/8. He started the iGCSE course in Y9 using a Longman book.
Both use on line resources too - my Maths, Manga High etc

[byroniks]

Thanks everyone for all your reply.
Queen's Gate uses a Maths textbook but unfortunately i forgot to write down the title of the book. I just read on their website but when i tried to check it, i could no longer find it. My DD uses the on line IXL.

[nocampinghere]

Essential Maths:
by David Rayner (Author), Michael White (Author)

[byroniks]

Thanks nocampinghere.
Is this the one Queen's Gate is using?

[Toffeelatteplease]

my maths is awful compared to a decent text book

so are worksheets so many of the free ones are poor quality

[FlyingFortress]

Mine also use Essential Maths. And then the Edexcel IGCSE maths books for igcse. The books are usually based on the specific qualification rather than the type of school.

[Badbadbunny]

My Maths has it's place, as there's no doubt it's useful for practice, but in my experience, it promotes an ethos of trying to do things in your head rather than doing workings on paper, so more likelihood of getting things wrong, and of course, you can keep trying with multiple chances to get it right.

That's the opposite of what happens in proper tests and exams when you have to show your workings and have to get it right (no chances to try again!).

A couple of years ago, my son had a maths teacher who set everything via mymaths, no text book use and no worksheets (thank goodness). In the end of year test, my son did poorly. The following year, a different teacher used a text book (without answers) and insisted on proper written workings, and then marked the homework himself. My son's maths improved greatly and he got over 95% at the end of year test!

I've no doubt MyMaths is good for teachers in that they don't have to mark homework etc (just take a report from the system), but certainly in my son's case, it didn't help his techniques. Used as extra practice alongside proper written work and marking, it's probably an excellent addition, but it's certainly not an alternative to proper written work.

[nicp123]

Maths books used in Year 8 here:

Sorry, some images are sideways.

[byroniks]

Thanks for all your responses. Really helpful.
nicp123 - from what school?

[TheFallenMadonna]

Email the Head of Maths?

[JaneJefferson]

Why have you asked specifically about private schools? Do they use different textbooks than state schools? Odd post.

[portico]

Maths buster by CGP is great. Try the online demo

[nocampinghere]

JaneJefferson i can't answer on behalf of the OP but my DDs friends who are at state school do not have maths textbooks.

nearly all of their mums have asked which text books DD gets and they have bought it.

[nocampinghere]

and they do have a My Maths subscription as well. Barely used for homework though, i think it is just there for extra practice / optional / those who want it.

[HereIAm20]

Our prep used the same Essential Maths as nicp123 above. There are different levels for different sets. We had a paper copy issued but there was also an online copy on the school's intranet that we could access for homework if he left it at school which was handy.

[byroniks]

That's exactly the point.
It's such a big help to know which textbook to use.