School is getting so expensive

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

I genuinely don’t know how we can afford this.

We’ve just spent £600 kitting out the 3dc for the new school year. Fine. It can be pricy.

But now we’ve just had an email from school, due to COVID our boys need a school tracksuit to travel in on PE days. That £50 for two.

Now ds1 need Alevel text books at £180 and a recommended scientific calculator is £100.

We are reasonably lowish earners but not low enough to be eligible to claim anything.

How do others manage this? Nearly £1000 is just so much money.

The Casio fx-991 EX does everything needed for both the A-level Maths and Further Maths. The graphical ones are allowed in the exam but unless the school is going to spend time helping the kids get to grips with its functionality it will be more of a hindrance than a help.
I teach in a private school and there is no way we would require the students to have a £100 calculator.
The Casio fx-991 EX is more than sufficient to get an A* in both exams.

For the text books, try asking the previous Year 13s if they wish to sell their books on. On Amazon, you can buy used versions or even Kindle versions for much lower prices than the new texts.

Yep, the Casio 9911 Classwiz is the lowest spec calc you need for A-level. But if the rest of the class have a different calculator that's graphical, it could be tricky as you need to learn how to use the right functions.

991, not 9911!

Dd is studying engineering at university, her calculator was £30, bought it for a levels last year. My kids had to have track suits and they were £50

I honestly would email in, not in a ranty way, but setting out what you have paid already to get ready for this school year. I have worked with senior leaders in the past who can be a bit out of touch, and don't think all the way through to the implications for families, especially with more than one (rapidly growing!) child at the school. It simply might not have occurred to them, pathetic as it sounds.

The calculator is also extortionate!

My DD1 completed her maths degree last year and DD2 her engineering degree this year - both had Casio fx type models for about £30.

This is the calculator recommended by our school for those doing further maths at A-level. I got mine for £29.99, but even at the price it’s showing currently, that’s still half the price of the £100 one!!!

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00CZ8E3QC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Think it's important to talk to school. If you are struggling then others are likely to be in same boat. Can the school help, maybe a Facebook group that puts people in contact to sell old textbooks/ uniform to next year? Can they consider having non branded items? This might be away of raising it as an issue.

We were told that this one is best for A level although there was a cheaper option if it was too expensive. The maths teacher has been at the school for decades so I'm sure she knows what she's doing

Just ask on your local FB pages 'has anyone got ..., please?' and I'm sure there will be someone longing to get rid of uniform bit and books and calculators.
I know we live in the 'affluent' south east but I couldn't give away DD1s uniform very quickly (probably she was tall so too big for most Yr 7).

Also there are free scientific calculators online eg www.desmos.com/scientific

Don't bother with the scientific calculator. Plenty don't have it even for further maths. She will need a more sophisticated one than for GCSE though so she can do for example some of the stats required for A-level. (I teach A-level maths and beyond). I would ask on the facebook group if someone has a second hand one for sale.

My dds primary have just pulled a logo'd tracksuit out of the bag too you're right op that it's just way too much money. I don't know what the answer is other than to speak to the school. You won't be the only family struggling with the cost.

Please talk to your school. As I said, schools are expected to reduce the burden on families and remove financial barriers.

Frankly I don’t think schools should be teaching the kind of maths that requires a £100 calculator unless they are prepared to heavily subsidise it.

My DDs primary school has everything with a logo (including tracksuits & baseball caps). They do have second hand sales but they’re not at times a working parent would necessarily be able to get to.

@TheMarzipanDildo

Frankly I don’t think schools should be teaching the kind of maths that requires a £100 calculator unless they are prepared to heavily subsidise it.

As said by others above, a £20 calculator is perfectly adequate for GCSE and A level Maths.

DS has just done maths and further maths A level and they had a £25 Casio calculator. It’s a grammar which gets exceptional numbers of A* for maths. I think you are being fleeced!

My ds needed one of the expensive calculators . The school bought them in bulk and they cost about £40 with the discount .

Actually we probably gave ds one upstairs , if you DM me and I can find it so am happy to send it to you !

£100 for a calculator?!

My ds go to a private school ( funded by LA as they have SEN and state refused to meet their ehcps) and even I dont get all branded PE kit, not this year. One Asda polo for 1.50 and sports direct joggers for £7. The shoes are trainers was 35 each but should last the year. As said by pp they need clothing anyway so its uniform or non uniform clothes

@Peaseblossom22

My ds needed one of the expensive calculators . The school bought them in bulk and they cost about £40 with the discount .

No they didn't "need" them. The teachers/HOD "chose" to use expensive calculators. There's no "need" in the GCSE and A level exams - people can get the top grades with a £20 calculator. The school in question needs to be challenged as to why they're wanting excessively expensive equipment when it's not actually needed.

How have you possibly spent £600 on uniform ?

If 1 dc has shot up and outgrown the blazer (which you would obviously buy over sized for Year 7), then that blazer goes to dc2, and dc2's blazer goes to dc3. Ditto virtually everything else, from PE kits and football boots to shirts and jumpers. Yes, shoes add up, and can't generally be passed down, but I've never spent a fraction of that between my 3 on uniform.
Then agree with everyone else - my dc3 has just finished A -levels including 2 sciences and £100 calculators are really not needed.

'Schools' aren't becoming more expensive, you are choosing to spend more than you need to.

@BackforGood

How have you possibly spent £600 on uniform ?

If 1 dc has shot up and outgrown the blazer (which you would obviously buy over sized for Year 7), then that blazer goes to dc2, and dc2's blazer goes to dc3. Ditto virtually everything else, from PE kits and football boots to shirts and jumpers. Yes, shoes add up, and can't generally be passed down, but I've never spent a fraction of that between my 3 on uniform.
Then agree with everyone else - my dc3 has just finished A -levels including 2 sciences and £100 calculators are really not needed.

'Schools' aren't becoming more expensive, you are choosing to spend more than you need to.

Well since you know everything about my life, judge away!

1. We have a three tier system here so the kids aren’t in the same school for more than 4 years.

1. The upper schools are single sex and I have both sexes.

1. They have different uniform for sixth form too!

1. The PE kit has been extended this year to include branded tracksuit so they can travel to and from school in it.

1. Ds1 lives to sixth form, dd started a new school so needed most things new including school logo rucksacks.

1. They go to a state upper school which evidently thinks it’s a private school and everything is logo and expensive!

I haven’t been extravagant at all. They have one blazer, one jumper, two trousers/skirts and 5 shirts each plus ties, socks, PE kits, lunchboxes, water bottles, bags, stationery.

Happy to send you receipts!

We have just ordered the cheaper calculator anyway.