Unexpected visit from Headmaster!

[Gobbledigook]

Nothing serious but the Head from the school ds1 is set to go to in September has just turned up on my doorstep checking I live here!! The LEA have checked against an out of date electoral roll and we aren't on it, so he's had to go out and check each address that doesn't match!

He said he'd been to 4 houses this morning and at least one was really suspect!!

I know it happens but I can't really imagine someone lying about their address and I certainly didn't expect a personal visit to check me out! Ha ha!!

[Chandra]

HA, HA, but if that address allows you to be under the catchment of a better school I don't find it that surprising...

[miggy]

What a pointless waste of headmasters time. Surely a secretary could have done that while he got on with actually running the school?

[sparklymieow]

I have heard of people lying about their address, using other family members addresses to get a better school,

[catgirl]

don't you know that it is the secretary that really runs a school! (said by the child of an ex-head!)

But glad to hear it is checked out.

[Gobbledigook]

Chandra - yes it is a good school and people do move to be in the catchment but personally I couldn't lie, I'd be soooo stressed thinking I'd be found out! I can only be honest for my own sanity!!!

Miggy - true but I remember on that Tonight programme where they showed a school very oversubscribed it was the Head there that went knocking on doors. Don't see why it has to be them though I must admit but it was nice to chat with him!

[Marina]

Hmm, but it might have more of a shock factor if the Head confronted liars in person, or could say that he/she personally checked the parents' addresses out.
Anyway, all the good schools I know it's the Secretary who is the power behind the throne in a lot of ways
It's commonplace in London alas GdG...some authorities really do have to do these checks on a routine basis

[LIZS]

But miggy perhaps , if it comes to the crunch where someone has lied and a space is to be withdrawn it has to be someone of the Head's standing who identifies it. If a secretary went around and then had to notify someone else to double check the individuals could cover their tracks in the meantime.

[mrsflowerpot]

Our local primary school had a big hooha about this last year, people putting grandparents addresses down etc which meant they were badly over-subscribed and lots of very local children missed out. They did say that as a result they would be looking very closely at applications this year, don't know if the Head went door to door checking the electoral roll or not though!

[Chandra]

I guess there should be another big reason for the checks rather than catchment, after all they can't remove the pupils if they find out they don't live under the catchment, can they?

[marialuisa]

Yes they can chandra. there's a warning on LEA forms saying that if you are offered a place at a particular school on the basis of false/misleading information you have provided the place can be withdrawn at any time.

Most places do the checks before making offers though.

[Gobbledigook]

They are only checking out where names don't match up on the electoral register I think. We moved in in January and the electoral roll has our name on from 1st March. The deadline for applications to the school is 1st April but they've obviously decided to start checking early and have checked a register that is out of date for now.

I'm quite glad he came and caught me at home because that's the end of any suspicion of my address now. He knew we were moving as I've seen him at the school and he wasn't personally suspicious, but had to check because the LEA requested it.

Yes, it's good I suppose that they check because it sounds like one person is already losing a place due to lying

I've also heard that you can lose your place if the school subsequently find you don't live in the catchment - I think to avoid people renting in the catchment for the application period then moving back home later, or indeed just renting a flat or something but not actually living there. Can't believe the lengths people go to!

[Chandra]

What happens if you are renting a house in that area and after two children you realise it's about time to buy a house and end up buying in another area?

[marialuisa]

Depends, if the kids have started school and you're genuinely moving house nothing happens. if you never lived in the house you were renting and moved out before the kids even started school you might get into trouble.

It's only in really over-subscribed schools that this happens though.