Textbooks at state/independent secondary schools?

[tutorse22]

Hello,

Apologies if this is a dumb question ? but I was just wondering whether secondary schools here use textbooks? Not to stir up controversy but just to ask, since I'm not from the UK: is it the case that state secondaries don't require the students to buy textbooks to use throughout the academic year, but that private schools do?

Not trying to stir up any arguments re state/private, just trying to ascertain the facts?

many thanks

[JessM]

State schools provide all necessary text books. Occasionally they may sell additional material, eg revision guides, that are optional. They do this to help parents with choosing what extra to get if they want them, and the school will pass on its bulk buying discount making it cheaper for the parents. If you have school textbook you have to give it back: it remains property of the school.

At private schools, it varies. Some do exactly the same as state, some require pupils to buy their own. Sometimes a school may ask for a refundable book deposit to make sure they get their books back, or they may charge if a book is not returned.