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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think we shouldn't have to buy the set book for GCSE English Lit?

317 replies

chomalungma · 10/09/2019 21:17

We have been asked to buy the book that DS is currently studying for GCSE Eng Lit.

Yes - I can afford it. But that's not the point. There are many families who are on tight budgets. Apparently other subjects require the parents to buy equipment as well.

English is a compulsory GCSE. The school should have sets available to read.

I know that schools are on very tight budgets. I am not blaming the school at all. It's not an academy.

I blame the Conservative party. I hope people remember these cuts and the effect they have had on their children for the last 10 years when it comes to the election.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 10/09/2019 21:19

We have lots going free/cheap on our school Facebook group from the year above.

Lucindainthesky · 10/09/2019 21:20

Yanbu.

superram · 10/09/2019 21:20

Those kids on tight budgets will receive a copy. I agree with your sentiment.

GorkyMcPorky · 10/09/2019 21:20

Who do you think should buy it? We have in school copies but they can't be used for annotating or taken home for revision. The school can't afford to buy a copy of every set text for each pupil. They probably have some available for use in school but I imagine many would prefer to use their own copy.

ViaSacra · 10/09/2019 21:20

Pupils need to be able to write in, highlight and annotate their English literature set texts.

That means that the school can’t just reuse the same ones each year, which creates an expensive annual outlay.

theunrivalledjoysofparenting · 10/09/2019 21:21

The kids need to buy copies so they can annotate them. You can’t do that on school copies. It’s not rocket science.

We bought our own lit books in the 80s.

VolcanionSteamArtillery · 10/09/2019 21:21

YABVA

You need to annotate your own copy. You cant annotate a book you dont own.

lovelyupnorth · 10/09/2019 21:22

So who should pay. Things like this show why the uk system is fucked. Everybody wants everything for nothing.

Far better we take some fucking responsibility for our kids.

Divebar · 10/09/2019 21:23

I’m pretty sure I had to buy copies of books for my O levels ( not even GCSEs) back in
1985. It’s not new

Sh05 · 10/09/2019 21:23

If it's the same text as last year maybe contact an ex yr 10/11 pupil and see if they'll be willing to sell at second hand price. My dd is in yr 9 and last year's yr 11 kids passed on alot of their textbooks to the yr 9's.

snowy0wl · 10/09/2019 21:23

When I went to school in the 1990s (state secondary school) my parents also had to buy me books for several subjects.

lovelyupnorth · 10/09/2019 21:23

And did you see how fucked the school systems was under labour.

athenagoddessofwar · 10/09/2019 21:24

Local library might have it.

thisismeusernameything · 10/09/2019 21:24

Oh just stop!! We had to buy our own textbooks for English 20 years ago. It’s not a new thing.

Divebar · 10/09/2019 21:24

Be thankful you’re not in the US where schools send out lists for supplies like paper, pens, glue sticks etc. It’s a whole “ thing”

Fatted · 10/09/2019 21:24

When I was in high school doing my GCSE's almost 25 years ago now, we had to buy the books. Technically it was the Tories in government back then as well. So we can still blame them if you want.

CountFosco · 10/09/2019 21:25

Why do children need to annotate their own copy? We had school copies when I was at school in the 80s, never annotated them and got an A in both my O grade and Higher English.

We've been asked to pay for materials for practical subjects but not books.

Expressedways · 10/09/2019 21:26

Tony Blair was PM when I did my GCSEs and I still had to buy my books. You have to annotate them so you need your own fresh copy.

MrsWooster · 10/09/2019 21:27

Yes, school should supply them. In reality, second hand classics are pence and offer kids the chance to annotate. It’s a pita for the teachers, tho, because you can’t say ‘turn to page 54’ when every kid has a different edition...

Youngandfree · 10/09/2019 21:27

Hey OP....pop on over here to Ireland and you will have to pay for ALL of the books right through from primary school and a payment for art funds and photocopying fees too!! (Jesus Christ if I see one more parent in the UK moaning about the fact they have to put their hand in their pocket for their child’s education) 🤯

nicknamehelp · 10/09/2019 21:28

I seem to remember buying my books and some equipment for my GCSEs when there was a labour government.

Sunshine93 · 10/09/2019 21:31

Hope they're not going to do maths a level. They recommend a £100 calculator now.

It is normal to pay for texts you intend to annotate. PP students will get them for free as school received extra money for that.

Maybebabymummy · 10/09/2019 21:32

YABU buy the books

Amazon, eBay, Facebook a pretty cheap.

If your worried about poorer students speak to the school, maybe they have arrangements if they don’t maybe you an instigate it.

While your at it ask what else the school needs to help educate your child and think about supplying it.

stucknoue · 10/09/2019 21:33

Fsm kids were given copies, everyone else was told they needed to buy, they can read copies in class but couldn't remove it from the school. My older daughter went to a different (school went into special measures) school and they provided everything, even cooking ingredients and revision guides

BreconBeBuggered · 10/09/2019 21:33

Never had to buy set texts at school in the 80s, and even now have only ever paid for course materials and revision guides. DS2 is just starting sixth form.
My younger sister told me that text books that had been used by me were much prized in her year group. I was fond of writing my own remarks in the margins, so I'm guessing that wasn't for the quality of my annotations.