OpenSchoolbag FAQ: Learning Resources & Tools
What changed, why old shop pages are still here, how the free tools work, and how we decide what to publish.
At a glance
Browse guides
Choose by stage, subject or purpose
Use free tools
Find resources, plan study and practise maths
Verify changes
Check official sources before acting
Common questions, answered
How do I know if a book is working?
Give it two weeks, then check three things: can your child explain the method, do the same errors happen less often, and do they need less help? If effort went up but none of those improved, change the book or the way it is used, not the number of pages.
A useful next step is to use the resource finder.
Can I buy books here?
No. There is no shop here. We hold no stock, take no payment and run no checkout. Resource and publisher pages are guides, so check current editions and availability elsewhere.
A useful next step is to read about the rebuild.
How do I choose a resource?
Start with the learner's level, subject and exact need. Inspect sample pages, plan how feedback will work and avoid duplicating books that serve the same purpose.
A useful next step is to see how content is reviewed.
Is every old URL restored?
No. Pages worth keeping were rebuilt, or point at a close replacement. Old campaigns and listings we cannot verify return a clear gone page, rather than pretending the offer still stands.
Is OpenSchoolbag part of MOE or SEAB?
No. OpenSchoolbag is independent. It is not a school, a government agency or an exam board, so check official details with whoever is responsible for them.
Where should I verify examination or admissions information?
Guides that cover changing rules name the MOE or SEAB page where one exists. Always use the authority's own page for dates, eligibility, subject codes, formats and how to apply.
Are the calculators and maths tests official examinations?
No. They are free learning tools. The calculators show selected methods, and the short Primary and Secondary tests use our own questions, not past exam papers.
Choose the right route for the task
OpenSchoolbag is organised around decisions rather than a live catalogue. Start with the route that matches what you need to do, then move into a narrower guide only when the evidence supports it.
When you are choosing
Browse by school stage for developmental and transition context, by subject for skill-specific guidance, or by collection for the job a format can perform. Use the finder when the need is clear enough to filter but the best starting hub is not. Inspect current samples elsewhere before purchasing.
When you are practising
Use the study planner to split time between learning, recalling, applying and correcting. The Maths Lab checks arithmetic, algebra, geometry and statistics working, and the diagnostic groups our own questions by topic.
These are practice aids, not school or exam systems.
When information may have changed
Look for the source panel on guides that cover changing rules, then check the MOE, SEAB, school or publisher page yourself. We can tell you what to check. We cannot replace the body that decides it.
When an old address no longer works
Search for the title, publisher, subject or learning purpose instead of assuming that a missing listing still represents a current product. Useful legacy addresses may redirect to a close guide, while obsolete promotions and unverifiable offers return a clear gone response. This protects readers from invented stock and outdated claims. If an old route should lead somewhere more helpful, send its exact URL through the contact page so the editorial team can compare the original intent with the maintained library.