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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be miffed at having had to pay for a school maths GCSE book

104 replies

rightknockered · 26/09/2017 13:06

In the original letter it stated that the book was to be used for homework etc., so I felt obligated to buy it, not wanting my ds to be at a disadvantage. Now I have learned that the book is to remain at school in his locker.
I feel quite angry that the school misrepresented how the book was to be used, also quite cheesed off that they couldn't just be honest with parents - that we were required to pay for school GCSE text books.
I understand the effects of cuts in funding, etc., but they could have been honest.

OP posts:
mum11970 · 26/09/2017 17:46

Is it a text book your child is likely to mark or write in, these are generally bought by parents as they cannot be reused? We have bought loads of different revision guides, Luckily dd is doing a couple of subjects that ds1 also did as A level so they can be reused. Dd is in year 12 and we have to supply all consumable materials, whether they are books or stationery. I've just spent the best part of £20 today for supplies for her photography A level. Luckily we had an older dslr camera she could use or we would have to fork out for a camera too. Nothing stays in school as they have no lockers, exercise books must be brought in daily. Have very rarely had to supply anything other than for home economics or d&t before about yr10-11 though.

Trying2bgd · 26/09/2017 17:48

It's amazing how spoilt we have been. Back in the day when I did a-levels, our English set texts were given to us and because we had to write all over them, there was no way it could ever be passed on yet not a penny was paid by my parents.

deadringer · 26/09/2017 17:50

3lucky books are heavy but I don't know anyone who can afford a second set to leave in school. Aside from the expense, what a waste of paper, ink and other resources. Couldn't they use ebooks for the second set? Text books not workbooks of course.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 26/09/2017 18:18

A few years ago, my department was relocating. We did a big book cull of the aging, disintegrating textbooks that were either gathering dust or that we'd been making do with. There was a set still in use stating that the EU has 12/ 15 countries (depending on the edition in the pile). It was still bitter dumping them in the skip as there was no chance of replacement.

Resources like exam board specific GCSE books being made redundant by government meddling with no budget for replacement is scandalous and has just added to teacher workload as everything has to be created on PowerPoint with no back up resources.

noblegiraffe · 26/09/2017 18:28

Would people moaning about buying a maths textbook really be happy with the alternative? This wouldn't be the school paying, it would be your DC having no textbook at all.

And that might be quite an issue as there's a reasonable chance that their teacher isn't actually qualified to teach maths at all.

RainyDayBear · 26/09/2017 18:30

I work in a department with no decent textbooks. Our GCSE ones are from around four specifications ago, some bits are useful but not completely relevant. Some topics aren't covered in any of our books and we have to rely on other resources. It's not down to us not managing our budget; we don't have the capacity in our budget to buy enough along with all the other resources we need. I wish our school would do something like this, but a lot of our students families would be unable to afford it.

PortiaCastis · 26/09/2017 18:30

That'd be the tories cutting school funds!!

existentialmoment · 26/09/2017 18:36

This is hilarious. One textbook! Try buying every single text book, work book, copy book, pen and bit of stationary all of your children will ever use, and then pay for the photocopying the school does and even insurance!

wtffgs · 26/09/2017 18:42

It's a con by schools who cannot properly budget and spend inappropriately.

a suitable teacher could not be found

Do the phrases "schools funding crisis" or "chronic teacher shortage" ring any bells? Hmm

Feel free to ask what SLT are paid though as they seem to be exempt from pay freezes or cuts Angry

BoneyBackJefferson · 26/09/2017 18:44

It's a con by schools who cannot properly budget and spend inappropriately.

Thus the whine of the idiot is heard.

5rivers7hills · 26/09/2017 18:58

"Schools get paid per pupil they should buy the text books / pay for swimming / find a computer science teacher"

Those types of posts always strike me as if the same ilk as a NRP paying the bare minimum child support and bitching that they won't pay for a school trip or uniform or anything big because they pay £50/month to the RP

Y10Parent · 26/09/2017 19:04

I do wonder about the budget mismanagement. Children were told in year 9 that they had computer studies at GCSE, but the option was pulled during the last week, because a suitable teacher could not be found.

Think yourself lucky. Wish this had happened at my DC's school so we could have chosen something else. On 3rd teacher who is not qualified in computer science just ICT and is trying to learn along the way and is completely out of their depth.

It is a fact that there is a complete lack of qualified computer science teachers out there. Just wish schools unable recruit one were honest and didn't offer the subject.

As for budget mismanagement, don't get me started. Seems to be plenty for academy rebranding, corporatisation (is that a word) and general window dressing. Not to mention dubious research trips abroad for trust directors. No money for books, TAs etc but still able to redesign logo with flash new boards at all entrances, logo'd umbrellas for staff on outside duty, supply students with lapel badges, flags and flagpoles outside reception...

AssassinatedBeauty · 26/09/2017 19:42

I'm a qualified computer science teacher, not just ICT but actual CS. I left teaching due to how awful conditions have become and virtually nothing could persuade me to go back to teaching. The reason they couldn't hire a teacher won't be because they weren't offering enough money, it will be because ex-CS teachers like me are happy to be working in non-teaching jobs, for the same or better money and terms&conditions.

Y10Parent · 26/09/2017 19:46

AssassinatedBeauty, don't suppose you are up for a spot of tutoring!Grin

SandyDenny · 26/09/2017 19:54

Schools get paid per pupil they should buy the text books / pay for swimming / find a computer science teacher

I'm not sure what point you're making here. Yes, school funding is based on the number of pupils but that's a finite amount. they simply can't pay for everything that's needed.

It's a huge issue and there's no simple solution and it's especially worrying for parents who can't afford to buy everything the school asks for

Horridemma · 26/09/2017 22:35

It is common practice for students to buy their own A Level textbooks. With all the curriculum changes it is not surprising that students will be asked to pay for GCSE textbooks. At £20 a go a class set is expensive and schools simply can not afford to keep buying and replacing everything.

People will have to get used to supplying their own equipment at schools. Hopefully it will mean that students take better care of their books - no scribbles, horrid messages or penis drawings

velocitykate · 26/09/2017 22:48

I haven't read the whole thread so apologise if things have moved on, but:-

I did my A levels 25 years ago (and hence GCSEs 27 years ago). The funding levels even then were such that we only had one text book between two and that those books could not be removed from school because they were needed for other classes.

I bought my own textbooks. Depends on how well you want your child to do in these exams. Yes, theoretically, schools are funded to be able to provide these things. The reality is somewhat different

MFR3 · 26/09/2017 23:09

Non U.K. person here. We buy all our school books etc in the country I am from. I'm in awe that you are complaining that you have to buy one book.

Hotheadwheresthecoldbath · 27/09/2017 00:20

We have to buy most things,loose leaf files for each subject to be left at school,revision books,paper,lots of printing from school website.A lot of things for art but she enjoys using this at home as well.
We are now hitting the books for English and field trips for art and geography and it's still September.
I'm now putting money aside each month so there are less big shocks.We are a rural school so we have not had our budget slashed,it just stays as poor as it was before so I am not surprised or resentful at paying and the school can then help parents with less money/multiple children.
When dd finishes her GCSE we will give all relevant books to the school and hope the government stops tinkering with the courses.

melj1213 · 27/09/2017 00:56

YABU

The UK is pretty lucky in that schools provide a lot of the resources that schools abroad don't pay for.

My DD is now 9, we lived in Spain until she was 6 so she went to Infantil, which is like preschool but from the age of 4 they learn to read and write and by the time they complete their Educación Infantil they know the alphabet. She also did her first year of primary (Reception) where she studied Spanish language and literature, maths, natural and social science (history, geography and biology), art, English and PE. They also have a handwriting lesson (they learn and use cursive from primary, they only ever print letters in Infantil)

For every single one of those classes except PE there is usually at least 9 books - 3 text books, 3 work books and 3 homework/activity books - one of each per term, along with any other resources. At the start of the school year (in Infantil/first grade) or the end of the previous year you will get a list of the books needed for the following year and then you can either go and buy them yourself over the summer or most schools will offer a discount if you buy through the school. Then on the first day of term parents will be laden down with boxes and cases with all of their childrens' books that they are collecting. Each subject usually sets you back about €50 so you can easily spend €300 a year on books and that's just in primary ... the cost just increases as you go further up the education system.

I love DD being in school in the UK now, I am €300 a year better off just because I don't have to pay for all of the resources ... I'd happily pay for the odd book here and there rather than all of them!

tinytemper66 · 27/09/2017 03:49

Not all student return their copies of books at the end of their studies. Numbers on role fluctuate so new copies will have to be bought. Budgets are squeezed so tightly. I buy my own ink for my printer and often paper for it as we have very little money. We dont ask parents for money for texts but we recommend the work books, Brodies notes etc for revision. They don`t have to buy them but they are useful.

MidniteScribbler · 27/09/2017 04:09

I spent over $3000 for materials for my classroom last financial year. Yesterday I had to go and buy more pencils. Parents who sook about buying a book get no sympathy from me. You bred them, they cost money. Get over it.

sashh · 27/09/2017 06:31

I wouldn't be bothered about buying the book but I'd be bothered about then being told it must stay on school property. It's my book!

I think that's

a) so they have it for each lesson - there won't be any spare to borrow

b) so it doesn't get lost on the way home and child says X stole it, or X actually does steal it but it can't be proved.

As for computer science teachers I'm the only one on the PGCE course, 1 out of 60 in the cohort.

BoneyBackJefferson · 27/09/2017 07:20

Having given out exercise books at the beginning of the year to classes. I am already replacing the books that have been 'lost'.

With text books any brand new set that we have ever had has had at least 3 or 4 books defaced in the first lesson of use. Pupils that are known for this get given the old text books to work from. this will then mean that the parents of those children ring to complain about children having to use the old books.

As for the computer science teacher comments, they can get more money for less stress elsewhere.

SerendipityFelix · 27/09/2017 07:51

That school cuts website is shocking. I hadn't realised things were so dire.

For those who work in schools/have a good understanding of this, would Labour's proposal for a National Education Service solve these issues?