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

[rightknockered]

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.

DC starting GCSEs this year and so far we're having to buy books for 5 (out of 11) subjects. I'm fully expecting to be asked to buy for more in the next few weeks. We're fortunate enough to be able to afford it, even though we have already contributed to the school's voluntary fund (couple of hundreds per year, per child).

It's the sad state of affairs in state education. I don't begrudge schools asking for parents to pay for necessities. I do begrudge parents who can afford to subsidise in this way, who choose not to - it's a bit like the nail soup kiddie story: everyone takes their bit of ingredient out of the soup 'cause they think there's lots in it and before long all they have to share is just water.

I don't think our school had mismanaged funds. Even though I don't have access to the financials, I'm privy to some info and the budgets are extremely tight.

It's often said that budgets are in the red because of high staffing costs (pension contributions, NI etc.) And maybe it's not well managed in all schools. But if you pay peanuts... You get monkeys.

On the one hand we want a good wage, we want people to be able to afford to live. We also want our kids to be cared for and well educated. That is going to cost money.

On the other hand, a mentally that has developed is one of meaness - to pay the least possible (possibly because we feel that we ourselves aren't being well paid?) We can't merge the two sides unfortunately.

Those of you buying textbooks, do you also still contribute to a school fund? Although we didn't have to buy textbooks, we did have a suggested amount to contribute into a school fund every year - to help provide funds for all manner of things.

I had to buy textbooks at A level for dcs. If I had to buy a GCSE book, I would expect it to be used for only my dc only then sell it on etc.

We've had to buy all DD's GCSE text books too.

They were originally told they weren't allowed to take them home (making homework virtually impossible) but lots of parents complained so now they can.

We were told we had to buy them from the school, but again, lots of complaints so they gave out a list and I bought them from Amazon at half the price

We also have to provide all the materials for her food tech and art classes.

We have to provide all the materials for DD2's art lessons too (she's in year 8)