Do state school sixth forms usually expect students to buy textbooks?

[Roseyposeypie]

Is it normal to have to buy all text books and exercise books etc for sixth form at a state school? Just curious really, having splashed out over £100 worth of text books this week (and that’s only half of what’s needed over the two years).

Yes. Schools don’t have any money.

My sons had to buy everything - text books and pads of A4 paper to go into folders. He downloaded some books though and I'm not sure where from.

Yes. We did. Some were expensive (physics) but others i got second hand from amazon

I think most state Sixth Forms and colleges expect this as they are under funded. This has been the norm for over 10 years. Sixth Forms generally have a couple course books in most subjects in the library but they can't be taken out of library.

Yes. Luckily DC2 did the same subjects as DC1.

Interesting to know that it’s normal for others too. I’ll report back to the grandparents who were utterly incredulous.

Yes obviously.
You can get lots second hand.

Students are usually expected to write notes in the books or highlight parts.
So they can't really be used again can they?
Schools will probably have discretionary funds available if you really can't afford them.

Yes dt both started 6th form last year and it cost me a fortune. Check if you can get them secondhand on sites like world of books. Only issue we've found is secondhand text books occasionally come with somebodies annotations in.

My eldest just finished sixth form, I think we bought one text book

Yes, the (state) education is free, the materials aren’t. Schools are chronically underfunded. There will be lots of second hand books on Amazon and Oxfam books etc though.

Crikey.
Not in Scotland, I'm aware it's devolved, but I had no idea English schools had to buy textbooks.

State sixth forms should supply the essential books, they key words essential. Some schools get round this by using the word recommend but if the book is essential and the student can’t complete the course without and lessons/hw use it then yes the school by law should provide it.

It is the same in indies and private schools - they just get put on the bill!

Amazon market place is your friend here. Or Vinted.
however the school do put some online now or photocopy the key sheets. But yes it’s normal. At least you get the exams for free, unlike the private schools.

Mine are in y11, there are no books anymore, they get snippets of photocopies. I’d rather pay for books.

Neither of mine did, may be area dependent, if they had charged where we lived they would not have had many students.

Mine didn't have to pay for text books. The school supplied an online subscription to maths text books, but there weren't any recommended textbooks for physics or economics. I did buy them books voluntarily but they didn't use them much - mostly they used online resources.

I was stunned that they didn't get given a copy of the set text for GCSE English literature. It makes it very difficult to read it outside of class.

I second looking on vinted. I've had more than one bad experience with world of books where the book was disgusting. At least on vinted you can see how battered it is! Plus you can often get a bundle with revision guides etc

DS got given text books which they had to return. This was for maths. They didn't get, nor did I buy anything for the other subject. Goodness knows what they used. DS didn't take any notes either - I presume it was all on line. They were provided with a subscription to uplearn which DS hated.

Edited to say that this was for A level. At GCSE I did buy lots of CPG books. But that was a waste as they were not really looked at.

I teach English. Students have to supply their own copies of texts (at GCSE and A Level). Second hand copies are usually very cheap and will do fine!

yes, we had to buy them. 3 subjects. Got them through school - I think it was about £60 so didn't seem too horrendous over 2 years. Got the required calculator that way too - about £30

Most students have to buy their own textbooks at our school. If the student is in receipt of Bursary then we will buy their textbooks, stationery, pay travel expenses and any other reasonable items.

Yes
Also some for GCSE - and a fresh set without notes written in for DC2

I had to buy text books for A-level way back when. DS was at private school and we had to buy all textbooks and exercise books.