DS GCSE notes are almost useless

Actually as a science teacher I disagree. So many high quality revision resources. I would recommend cgp rev guides and all the workbooks/maths for science. Then mygcsescience is a great website with extra info for higher grades.

He needs to get used to note taking. I don't think it's reasonable for you to decide what terms your child will engage with the lessons.

In year 11 students should be more than capable of taking responsibility for their own note taking and making sure their notes are good, especially grammar students.

I don't think you can rely too much on CGP for grade 8s. It gets the basics but is too simplistic.

For English, have a look at York Notes over CGP and then look at Mr Bruff online.

DS has just done his GCSEs and yes it is possible to pass just using the revision guides, CGP ones in particular are brilliant. But the new exams have a lot more content so I would strongly suggest he starts going through them now, cramming is not adviseable. DS made flash cards of all the information from the guides, didn't use his school books at all. Good luck!

I'm sure people will advise you to get on with reorganising the notes, and being proactive.

Myself, I'd sign up to Tassomai for sciences, spark notes etc. For English, and khan academy (free) or conquer maths/Mr. Burton's math/maths is fun.

Also z-notes, which are free.

Some kids just do better with prepped notes.

Then get decent text books with proper optional studies for history and geography, if they are taking those.

If your child is looking at A levels, you might need a study skills crammer later, but I don't mind paying for notes and pointers at GCSE. It gives them a sort of framework to build on.

I like the CGP books for maths for repetition, and the Save My Exams site for past papers/worked questions.

Can I recommend that you or he looks up the Cornell method of notetaking? (YouTube has some great videos).

It is a great way of combining minor notetaking in lesson, with consolidation at home (and very easy to do!)

He could do with making new notes. They don’t have to be handwritten, typed maybe, by goingvthrough his textbooks & revision books.

Also practice answering exam style questions.

He's not going to be allowed to ditch the note taking. The teachers will not tolerate it.

I would advise the revision guides, a text book for each subject, and reading the BBC Bitesize guide to every lesson he has, every day, unless of course he has an excellent grasp of it