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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

What stationary is needed for 6th form

25 replies

Appleby39 · 27/08/2019 18:42

Wondering what stationary is needed for 6th form? Son starts this September to do A levels and all I have so far is the uniform. Any particular brands better than others? Any tips would be grateful.

OP posts:

RedskyLastNight · 27/08/2019 18:55

I would imagine that this varies by school and by the subjects he is studying.

But why is your DS not sorting this out?

Pinkyyy · 27/08/2019 19:01

He's 17 and you're sorting his school supplies out? If he can't even be bothered to prepare and find out what he needs at the very start, that's not a great sign.

OneHanded · 27/08/2019 19:01

Massive variation going to be needed for subjects... a pen and a notepaper pad with tear sheets in a bag and then binders for each subject is the best start. These were stored locker with books so I didn’t have to lug a suitcase in everyday for the hours walk each way.

sanityisamyth · 27/08/2019 19:03

What subjects is he doing? A calculator would be useful for Maths and physics, a paintbrush more use in art!

Original poster

Appleby39 · 27/08/2019 19:04

Thanks for the helpful comments. Son is 16. Should have put subjects in the op so apologies for that. He's doing A level Biology, Chemistry and Law.

OP posts:

C0untDucku1a · 27/08/2019 19:07

Fgs he is 16! He should be more independent than this. Our role as a parent is to prepare our children for adult life. If my 16 year old son could not find out what equipment is needed for his chosen A Level subjects, then go and buy that, I’d be disappointed in my parenting.

Pens. Pencils. A ruler. Highlighters. Post it notes. A pencil case. Compass for venn diagrams. Notepads. A diary ti record outside work and hand-ins. A bag. Then whatever subject specific equipment is stated in the prospectus or other literature.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 27/08/2019 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

C0untDucku1a · 27/08/2019 19:08

Op seriously stop babying him. He wont cope with a levels or university if he cannot do basics like this himself.

coconuttelegraph · 27/08/2019 19:09

Is it a private school? I can only speak for state schools and I feel like I'm insulting your intelligence but since you ask - pens, pencils, paper, ruler, rubber, calculator and files but without knowing what your school expects that might be way off the mark

C0untDucku1a · 27/08/2019 19:10

I thought you were correcting me then Big. E for envelope.

borntobequiet · 27/08/2019 19:11

Some sixth formers of my acquaintance felt a biro was enough. Sometimes they didn’t remember to bring it.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 27/08/2019 19:13

Your 16 year old son expects you to research and buy his stationery. That's a bit of a rod for your own back

I had a lever arch folder that I spent about 5 hours choosing but this was some time ago...

Aragog · 27/08/2019 19:14

Don't worry OP - I helped DD sort her stuff for sixth form. She asked me to come with her and I did - mainly to pay

DD likes to be very organised so she bought a lever arch file for each subject with A4 pad with tear out sheets and dividers. She also got a selection of new pens, highlighters, pencils, rubber, sharpener, etc. She didn't need any specific equipment for her subjects.

JuniperOakPark · 27/08/2019 19:19

I think people are being overly harsh. At my sons' secondary they were provided with specific pen colours by the school, when it ran out you went to student services to have it replaced, same with the board marker. My son has just finished year 11 and for the first time there is now an equipment list on the website.

There has been no information on what is required for sixth form for Ds1. He did a taster day where they did actual subjects. The only thing supplied to him when he registered is a sheet of paper telling him that on the year 12 induction day ( only 3 hours in sixth form when it opens) he will be given his timetable, ID, and the student handbook.

There has been no information on lockers, equipment, whether the school provides the folders that are in the classrooms or not. Ds1 is far from stupid but they have not been given the opportunity to ask anything.

He is taking his usual school pencil case and a Pukka Pad which has tear out sheets plus a thin A4 folder with pockets in.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 27/08/2019 23:46

I cannot BELIEVE my comment was deleted!! Ffs!

MarchingFrogs · 28/08/2019 00:25

www.familyfourfun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Tiger-3-768x419.jpg

If they seriously weren't told of any particular requirements for their courses on induction day, then pen and A4 pad as basics for the first day.

Tesco have lots of stuff on special offer at the moment. Wilko is good, as well. And Flying Tiger for periodic table notebooks, of course.

BringOnTheScience · 28/08/2019 00:54

StationEry

Lever arch file for each subject, in different colours. Eg blue for biology, red for chemistry, green for law.
A4 pads that are lined, hole punched & perforated, for daily note taking. Worth buying decent quality for smooth writing.
Favourite style of pen. Lots of these!
Highlighters / markers / fine liners in colours to match the files. Use to identify subjects.
A4 plastic wallets (the ones with flap & popper) in colours to match the files.
Index cards to make flash cards &/or a3 paper for mind maps, depending on their preferred revision style.

sanityisamyth · 28/08/2019 07:15

@BringOnTheScience it's definitely green for biology! It just is 😜 I'll agree with red for chemsitry 🤣

hopelesschildren · 28/08/2019 08:00

O gosh, 40 years later, and I can confirm, green for German and biology, blue for French and physics, yellow for English and ancient Greek, grey for history, red for geography and chem, Latin(not that many differnt colours available...)

BringOnTheScience · 28/08/2019 08:09

DC1 did IB ... had a full rainbow!

berlinbabylon · 28/08/2019 08:18

I had a ring binder with some lined paper in, with dividers for my three subjects. I used to take that to school each day.

At home I had three lever arch files, one for each subject, and transferred the notes for each week into the relevant lever arch file each weekend so I only had to carry a ring binder around. I have no idea what colour I had :)

Of course, they may take notes on a tablet or laptop but I think the old school way is probably most efficient in the end.

mnahmnah · 28/08/2019 08:22

I expect my students to have a folder with dividers. Plastic walkers is up to them. Highlighters. I provide paper but easier if they bring their own. Flash cards. Green biro for correcting. BUT, this will all depend on each subject and your particular school. As long as he has the basics to start ( a pencil case with plenty of pens, pencil, highlighters, rubber, ruler) his teachers will tell him what else he needs when he starts. It could be a waste getting folders for example, if they use books

mnahmnah · 28/08/2019 08:23

Wallets, not walkers!

GHGN · 28/08/2019 09:27

At that age, I moved to a different country to study on my own. Give him some money, tell him to sort it out himself OP.

Aragog · 28/08/2019 15:50

DD takes a plastic wallet or small ring binder, with an A4 note pad each day and then she moves them into the correct lever arch folders once home.

DD's colours are:
pastel blue - Spanish
pastel pink - Drama
pastel turquoise - Computer Science
blue - EPQ

For GCSE she had a full rainbow of colours!

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