Help with buying school books?

[wavingthroughwindows]

DD goes into year 10 in a few days, she already did her first gcse year in year 9 but still has two years left. Her teachers have given her a big list of books to buy as further reading/research. She's classes as gifted and talented, highest grades in most of her classes, so I do think they'll help her but I really cannot afford it. I asked the school if they have some kind of programme where she could borrow school copies of books if they had them, but they said she has to have her own 'to make annotations on' which I can understand. The kids did have iPads but the school stopped that as a few kids broke them and a few others broke the rules they were given, so the free iBooks aren't an option. I need a book bursary programme of some sort, but from what I've found only universities offer them. Any advice?

Library? Many loan ebooks now.

2nd hand off amazon. Often less than 3.00 per book including delivery. Ask the school if any 6 formers would sell their books?

Her school only opened a couple years back, she's the oldest year group so that isn't an option I'm afraid. The libraries near us only have a few that she needs, and they're usually the free to buy ebooks that we already have access too. According to the school it's better to have physical copies so she can make notes in them which seems a bit odd to me.

What kind of books are they asking for? Textbooks and actual paper books seem to be a rarity in schools nowadays. Have you looked on eBay or Amazon marketplace? We have lots of GCSE revision guides etc in perfect condition which I am planning on selling there.

I don't think it would be unreasonable for her to borrow the books from a library and make notes separately. Have you asked a librarian? My local library can get books in from any of the libraries in the city (and as that includes the central library they could get most things).

We managed to get her the revision guides last year (that cost a fortune as she's on the new courses, pre-owned wasn't an option...). They want basics such as Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde which are easy enough. But for 'further reading' they want her to read all the book on the English course as comparisons for her essays (no idea what that means). And for History she's been told to look into Nazi Germany based fiction with a few reccomendations so she can talk about historical accuracy. I feel like they may be pushing a bit too far?

OK, she doesn't need to buy any of those books, they should all be available in a local library or, as mentioned, they can be ordered in from another branch. It does sound like a lot of extra work but none of it needs to cost extra money.

Yes - Library for the extra reading list but Amazon does swell second hand books and I got my son a copy of his "book" and notes about it for under a fiver for the 2.

Another way is to ask on local selling sites whether a year 12 student locally has copies of what you need available for you to buy from them.

Try the school library as well as the local library. I would hope that if they are recommending books, they would have them in stock somewhere on site.

Try Amazon and Ebay. Also pop into second hand book shops and Charity shops.

Your problem with second hand copies is all subjects (other than English and Maths) have changed their curriculum to the new 9-1 specification this year. No post GCSE students will have upto date guides to pass on except those for English and Maths. I know because I have just binned my daughters - they can not be passed on really because new specifications cover much more content than the old.

Schools can buy the revision guides at a much reduced price (CGP are about 50% cheaper to schools). Some schools buy in enough for the year group and then sell them onto students at the reduced price. If your school doesn't do this it is worth suggesting to them. Does your daughter have access to pocket money? If you can't afford it and she thinks they would be useful then maybe she could buy them herself?

It is also worth talking to the school if you are struggling financially. Some school will help parents with costs - Pupil Premium Students tend to be issued with free revision guides/workbooks.

Given that GCSE syllabuses have changed and are changing, buying second hand books may not be a good idea. It is best to check with the school if any of the second hand books are worth buying.

If you can't afford them, then just say no. It's extra reading, not required reading. Get what you can from the library, it'll be more than a lot of other kids are doing.

I bought the CGP revision guides for DD - biology, chemistry, physics, history and geography, and they were a massive help with DD's revision. They weren't very expensive.

I think you've got 2 different things going on here - revision guides (often ordered by school for a reduced price) which are incredibly useful.
And wider reading around a subject, which can be as much or little as your DD wants, has time for, and you can access.
It's worth speaking to the librarian at your local library, they can order in books from other branches so there's a wider choice than it might look at first.
Friends with older DC may have some of the wider reading books they can loan or donate to you.

But for 'further reading' they want her to read all the book on the English course as comparisons for her essays (no idea what that means)

I have to be honest this sounds like very bad advice. Of course, the best students will read and should read. But potentially confusing students as to what is the actual text being studied and appearing to suggest extra marks are available for cross references to other set texts(no they aren't! is flawed advice. I think you need them to clarify that because those could definitely be read on a Kindle, borrowed or whatever and would not need annotating.

I have started a v similar A level thread!!

I agree with Piggy!