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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think I should not have to spend £60 fecking quid on a calculator

120 replies

GrrrrrrFFFFFSSSSSS · 09/09/2014 17:03

DS just started at sixth form college, which, I understand is still a STATE education FFS!

It appears I have to buy him the following as literally NOTHING is provided:

-Paper/folders/exercise books

-£300 worth of text books and that's including some from the second hand bookshop and some cheap off amazon

  • and just as I've recovered from the above, I'm now told I have to buy him some fancy calculator for A level maths which is 60 QUID!

Funny how they don't tell you any of this at the open evenings.

I am honestly staggered.

OP posts:
thedancingbear · 09/09/2014 17:06

So you wouldn't let your DS pursue the a-levels of his choice on the basis that it would mean paying £60 for a calculator?

I'm staggered too.

PiperIsOrange · 09/09/2014 17:07

What kind of calculator is it, my phone calculator is amazing and it is a scientific one.

TheRealMaryMillington · 09/09/2014 17:09

it's a lot of money for a calculator which he may lose been there done that
try to find out the spec and see if you can find alternatives
text book etc is par for the course, but do they not encourage their students to recycle/pass on to new students

HotPinkWeaselWearingLederhosen · 09/09/2014 17:09

That's an interesting extrapolation you got from the op thedancingbear

Ididntseeitsoitdidnthappen · 09/09/2014 17:10

If he's going to be pursuing a science based degree and career he's going to need that calculator so think of it as an investment and be grateful your son isn't into the arts because then you'd really be crying about costs!

SarcyMare · 09/09/2014 17:10

This is crazy i had a full scientific calculator in the 90s it cost £20, electronics are cheaper these days.

I understand he cant use his phone, as he cant get an internet device out in an exam :)

traviata · 09/09/2014 17:10

thedancingbear did you read the OP?

OP that is a heckuvalot. Do they need all the books? I though I read on here that it's mostly digital now (DC are younger than yours).

Original poster
GrrrrrrFFFFFSSSSSS · 09/09/2014 17:12

It does graphs. Casio FX9750G11.

No dancingbear, I didn't say that did I, but it's the principle of the whole thing and the fact that it is apparently essential that all these things have to bought straight away with no notice.

OP posts:
writtenguarantee · 09/09/2014 17:13

do they actually specify the type and brand of calculator?

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 09/09/2014 17:15

The paper and pens is fair enough when they get to 6th form / college. Surely you had to provide stationary when he was at high school too to a certain extent?
However the books seem very expensive, could he not have borrowed them from the library? Or if he knew someone also on the course could they not share i.e you buy one book the other person buys the next then share them?
£60 is a lot for a calculator in general, however I am guessing it has special functions that he will need to pass his A-level?
All put together I can see it is a huge outlay, but hopefully it will all be worth it when he passes. I do think they could give you a cost break down / rough guide at open evenings so you could budget for them.

googoodolly · 09/09/2014 17:15

I wouldn't have bought the books yet. Honestly. I made that mistake for A-level and barely touched half of them.

seasavage · 09/09/2014 17:19

My parents had to pay for all of my materials and equipment at 6th form in my (run of the mill ex grammar school state school) in 1992. Yes YABU to expect the school to pay/ to have not costed the equipment lists before choosing where to send him.

Fluffyears · 09/09/2014 17:19

The calculator is essential start with that. The books can be ordered when required.

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 09/09/2014 17:21

I did Maths and Further Maths A-Level, and we were specifically told the we couldn't use graphical calculators, as they weren't allowed by the exam boards. And they can teach bad habits (easier just to plug it in and copy than work out the shape of the graph yourself). It does seem off to me to specify something so expensive.

Aeroflotgirl · 09/09/2014 17:24

I wonder what people on very low income do. It sounds a heck of a lot for a calculator and also cost of books. I know at Uni, you could borrow the aporopriate books from the Uni library.

nonamehere · 09/09/2014 17:25

A Level Maths teacher here - the calculator is a graphic, which wil plot graphs at the touch of a button & carry out quite complex statistical analysis, taking the slog out of the sums, so that he can concentrate on the methods. It's very much more complicated than a scientific. Be very wary of buying a different model - it's a nightmare if students in one class are all trying to use different ones, with different systems. The teacher will be able to give instructions on how to use the Casio but probably won't be as familiar with other types. However, I'd be surprised if he needs it immediately - the first module is usually a non-calculator one, so you could wait till at least Christmas. Do you know any students who have just finished A Level Maths, who would be willing to sell him their calculator?

AuntieStella · 09/09/2014 17:26

Check Wilkos for scientific calculators. They have a couple of models of the Casio scientific ones and were much cheaper than other places.

CakeUpWall · 09/09/2014 17:27

Okaay... You can get that model for £49.99 from Amazon.

However, it is not necessary to have a graphics calculator for A Level maths. Has it really been stipulated to your DS that this is what he needs? I would question that, if I were you.

britbat · 09/09/2014 17:30

You can get that calculator on eBay for £17

Aeroflotgirl · 09/09/2014 17:33

Look on e bay for a secondhand one

nonamehere · 09/09/2014 17:35

It's true that the graphic calculator isn't absolutely necessary (in theory) but it would be a big disadvantage if he didn't have one for the exam - and he needs time to learn how to use it properly.
They have been around the same price for about 15 years - electronics have come down in price, but the calculaor has been upgraded several times & is now very clever. Last year they were unobtainable for a while after the Japanese earthquake,& when they reappeared the price had gone up.

mommy2ash · 09/09/2014 17:35

when I was at school they specified a model of calculator so that everyone had the same as the teacher.

my dd is only seven and this year her books cost 100 euros all stationary and copy books etc are provided by the parents. there are also school fees for various activities that are mandatory that cost a further 200. Im dreading secondary school

SouthernComforts · 09/09/2014 17:35

I did AS levels including maths and I didn't have to buy any text books. I already had a scientific calculator from my GCSES.

That was only 5 years ago.

Original poster
GrrrrrrFFFFFSSSSSS · 09/09/2014 17:38

Thanks for all the comments. I am just really shocked at this level of expenditure. We have definitely had no notice of these requirements, I have kept all the information from the open days and his trial day. There is none of this info on the website. We got the book list yesterday. He's had all his subjects and been told what books are essential now, and must have his own copy. He got some at the college second hand shop today (where all the ex-students give their old stuff) and have just costed the rest on Amazon. This comes to £307. Plus the calculator which I am just googling and I think I can get it a bit cheaper.

Never had to buy him paper at school, pens yes, I can live with that.

OP posts:
nonamehere · 09/09/2014 17:39

He could certainly get by without a graphic calculator if he only did the AS (ie first year) course - but A2 would be difficult without one.