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

[chomalungma]

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.

I’ve still got my books from my GCSEs in the 90s, and I have read them since.

And my calculator.

I think they are the only equipment I still have. Well worth the money my parents spent all those years ago.

Also went to school in the 80s, it was perfectly normal to buy books for English O level and at the beginning of A levels we were given a book list for each subject. Not new at all.

Also remember buying art supplies for O level art.

Most schools have copies of Key stage 3 texts but I’m surprised you have any issue with purchasing a text your child keeps, that they are advised to write all over and are extremely useful for their revision

Again - I have not said anything about him keeping it. I am just going by my school experience of having books handed down from year to year, often with annotations in from previous years.

Sometimes you got really good annotations. Occasionally not. And some interesting graffiti in.

But they were kept by the school.

Pretty much every single GCSE Lit text has a free printable copy available on the internet. Which one is your child studying, op? I’ll send you a link.

I’m doing a maths degree, my calculator cost £10, and it’s pink!

And yet like sheep we obey stupid expensive uniform rules.

My dd has started Sixth Form and I've had to buy £150 worth of textbooks.

Children. on FSM surely get the book for free from school? Our school gives CGP guides to FSM children too.

Pretty much every single GCSE Lit text has a free printable copy available on the internet. Which one is your child studying, op

Thanks - but I do think a book needs to be a book, and not a print out.

He is going to get a copy - and I hope he enjoys it. I'll probably end up rereading myself.

Do you also expect the school to provide pe kit for sports? swimming costumes? Football boots? There are some things that it is reasonable for the school to provide, for example I wouldn't want kids coming in on the bus with the chemicals they need for a chemistry lesson, but other things, such as books that the students are going to take home, annotate, highlight , and use later for exam revision that it is perfectly reasonable for parents to provide. I assume that there is provision made for children from poorer backgrounds to be provided with books.

I am from Germany and we had to buy stationary, arts material and workbooks from day 1 in primary. The amount of books we needed in secondary to buy grew each year as we had to use them for revision, so making notes and highlighting passages.

That was 30-40 years ago.

Some teachers even tell you the brand you are required to buy for arts material according to friends with children in school.

I bought my English literature book in 2000, plus a few other things that were compulsory, french dictionary, things for art, graphics... We also had to pay for the revision booklets for science that school got too. This isn't a new thing.

but other things, such as books that the students are going to take home, annotate, highlight , and use later for exam revision that it is perfectly reasonable for parents to provide

I refer you to my later responses

I don’t think you will be too happy if your DC goes to university, OP. Now those books are v v expensive 🤣

I still have my two Eng Lit book - To Kill a Mockingbird and Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry. I did GCSE's in 1995 and they are written all over inside.

My Dad was unemployed at the time / at college, but I still have them.

Mid 90's GCSE and A level we all had to purchase the set texts. I don't think it's a new thing?

Don’t you buy your DC books as a matter of course and as a good parenting practice ? Good lord! No wonder we have barely literate children. Their parents begrudge buying them books.

We also had to pay for the revision booklets for science that school got too

Revision Guides aren't essential. They are helpful, certainly.

But as has been pointed out, some people's experience of this when they were young varies massively.

And now with the advent of the highlighter pen, I suppose it is obvious that you want your own copy.

I had to buy books back in the 70’s I could then annotate the book etc. The school didn’t provide them. However nowadays you can get second hand copies on amazon etc if you are worried

And don’t go blaming the conservatives, remember it was the previous labour government that spent all the money, remember the note they left at the Treasury, there’s no money left.? Since then it’s a case of austerity to balance that

You have to buy the book as the school copies are kept clean for the exam, as is the law. The set texts are no longer allowed in the exams. Students now have to learn key quotes. Extracts in included in the question paper where necessary.

Faerie don’t know about nowadays but my university came with a pretty extensive library? Two, if you included the university as well as the college library. I bought a few books but not that many.

Try Amazon, or older students that don’t need their books anymore are always willing to sell at a reasonable price.

There are provisions in all schools for the poor to get books free either from the school or by previous year students donating their books. Failing that local Facebook selling pages may have second hand books same as charity shops.
If you can afford books well and good. Those that can't can obtain them. We put all of dgds GCSE text books for ALL subjects on the local secondhand Facebook page. All of them in prime condition at a pound each. These books included extra books that cost like £15 + each new yet we couldn't give them away.
In the end we gave them to the school. We are poor and we just wanted a little money towards dgds A level textbooks at £40 each but heyho!
If you want your child to do well like we did you will buy the books if you can afford them or get secondhand. The schools are underfunded and I'd rather see money go to get decent teachers or an extra SEN teacher.

I (well my parents) paid for my set texts in the late 90s. Why should the school pay for something that's going to be written over and unusable for anyone else??

So you decided to have kids but are pissed that you have to actually supply the things they need for an education? Kids are expensive and part of that expense is education. Schools are on the bones of their arses so some things need the parents to step up.