School supplies in the UK

[drspockeyebrows]

Long-time lurker, occasional poster with a brand new username (which I am quite proud of, thank you very much!)wanting to pick your brains if that's OK.

Do secondary schools still supply pupils with exercise books and course books, or is it now up to the families to pay for them?

In my school (state comprehensive, 1986 to 1990) the only things we had to buy were our pencil case and whatever we wanted in it. It wasn't until I got to sixth-form that I needed to buy folders and paper.

What's the situation nowadays? And if you do have to pay, what's the average annual cost?

Thanks.

DS2 has just gone into Sixth form. He was still supplied with exercise books for GCSEs, and theoretically course books. However, we were recommended to buy Study Revision guides for most (all?) subjects, plu sall the English Literature books so he could make notes in them.

Couldn't tell you what we actually spent as I didn't add it up along the way

IME, as teacher and patent, schools supply exercise books but not text books to individual students; when text books are used there is a classroom supply.

Agree tho revision guides and texts (for Eng lit) are a good idea at KS4.

parent, I am not a patent, patently 😄

Exercise books are provided but other equipment isn't.
Textbooks are usually shared in class and not one per student as often we'll use the same set of books with multiple classes.

Revision guides are usually bought by the student, but those eligible for pupil premium often get some support towards them or we buy them for them.

As @clary says, kids don't seem to have their own text books these days. DD2 asked us to buy the maths text book and we bought Eng Lit works for both DDs. Apart from Eng Lit books and revision guides, never bought any books for DD1 until she got into 6th form.

I’ve brought text books
DD also needed an iPad (must conform to school regulations, not with a SIM card and only school approved programs) he has a personal one as well
I’ve also paid for English reading material/books so the kids can make notes

Some books are available half price via the school

Exercise books are provided. Text books are mostly online these days.

Homework is also online so if you need to print it out you need to pay to have it printed at school (or have your own printer/paper).

Thanks for your replies.

So, pretty much the same in terms of the exercise books being provided then. And yes, I think our text books and set texts for English mostly stayed at school too.

I remember buying a revision guide for A-level French, I think, but that's all.