Helpful books

If you are looking for some starting points for book-based self-study, here are some recommendations, most of which are available in the library, so it is not necessary to buy them (unless you wish to):

Grammaire en dialogues Niveau débutant, Claire Miquel + audio CD (448.2 LER)
Basic grammar integrated into dialogues, with practice exercises. There's also a vocabulary version.
http://www.amazon.fr/Grammaire-dialogues-Niveau-d%C3%A9butant-audio/dp/2090352175

501 French Verbs, C. and T. Kendris
A reference book of conjugations
http://www.amazon.co.uk/501-French-Verbs-Verb/dp/0764124293

Communication Progressive Du Francais (Niveau Débutant), Claire Miquel + CD-Rom
Help with situational-based language
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Communication-Progressive-Francais-Niveau-Debutant/dp/2090333065

Exercices De Vocabulaire En Contexte: Level 1/2, Broché, R Eluerd
Vocab development in context
http://www.amazon.fr/Exercices-Vocabulaire-En-Contexte-Intermediate/dp/2011551536

Vocabulaire progressif du français avec 250 exercices, niveau débutant/intermédiare, Claire Miquel
Vocab development in the style of the grammar books you are using
http://www.amazon.fr/Vocabulaire-progressif-fran%C3%A7ais-exercices-d%C3%A9butant/dp/2090338784
http://www.amazon.fr/Vocabulaire-progressif-Fran%C3%A7ais-exercices-interm%C3%A9diaire/dp/2090338725/ref=pd_sim_b_3

Phonétique Progressive Du Francais, Lucile Charliaca + CD
Pronunciation help in the same style
http://www.amazon.com/Phon%C3%A9tique-Progressive-Francais-Lucile-Charliaca/dp/2090338806

Civilisation Progressive Du Francais: Avec 400 activites niveau débutant/intermédiare, C Carlo and M Causa
Focus on reading about French society and civilisation, with exercises
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Civilisation-Progressive-Francais-Textbook-Beginner/dp/2090339896/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_a

Access French 2 Support book+ CD
Mini-book with audio transcripts and CD if you want to replay any recordings covered in class

Better Reading in French, A Heminway
An intermediate level reading and vocabulary development book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Better-Reading-French-Improving-Understanding/dp/0071391398

And towards the end of the course:

Mot à mot, P Humberstone
An AS+ level vocabulary book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mot-New-Advanced-French-Vocabulary/dp/034077164X

Upgrade your French, M Jubb
A review of key areas of French around A-level
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Upgrade-Your-French-Margaret-Jubb/dp/0340763450