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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this admission fraud? AIBU to report it?

907 replies

grammarmom · 24/11/2025 16:21

Here's the situation.

We live in a grammar school catchment area that gets smaller every year. When we bought our house several years ago, it was very comfortably within the catchment for an excellent local grammar (very high in the league tables), and oh boy was it reflected in the price. Now we're right on the boundary. Among the thirty or so houses around us, some children got in last year and some didn't, literally a difference of a few yards.

Another child on our street, who is in the same class as my DC, only just passed the 11+ (a few points above the pass threshold). We live on the same road, but they are about 50 yards further from the school gate. Based on last year's distances, my child would likely get a place while theirs wouldn't.

Over the weekend, during a sleepover, the child mentioned that her mother has now rented a house much closer to the school to secure a higher priority for admission. The tenancy was apparently signed one day before the cut-off date, making it "legal" for admission purposes. She still owns their original home, but the story being presented is that relatives who were previously "homeless" will now live there free of charge, and all bills and utilities have been transferred into those relatives' names (I strongly suspect that the mother will in fact pay these bills as those relatives are penniless).

She's even moved the children's belongings to the rented property and makes them spend nights there (they hate it). There's no doubt that once the school place is obtained, they will move right back.

This effectively pushes my child down the priority list and means they may now miss out.

Would this constitute admissions fraud? It feels incredibly unfair that someone with £40k to spare for rent can effectively buy their way into a top grammar school, especially when their child didn't perform particularly well in the exam (despite being tutored for hours every day).

Should I report this? I have no more detail apart from what this child told me (and they obviously weren't too sure about some aspects of it due to age).

OP posts:
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Walkerzoo · 24/11/2025 23:19

She is playing the system as she has the cash to do so. When it cones to things like this it is every person for themself.

I would report but I think she has covered all bases and nothing will happen.

SouthLondonMum22 · 24/11/2025 23:18

Hohumdedum · 24/11/2025 23:16

I don't know if I'd dob them in, but tbh I don't think the mum is doing her kid any favours if they struggled to pass the 11 plus. I went to a very academic grammar and my friends who were at the lower end of the class mostly hated it and really struggled.

I'm amazed they don't prioritise places based on how well you pass the 11+!

Maybe OP's kid will help the friend for hours and hours like he did for the 11+.

Hohumdedum · 24/11/2025 23:16

I don't know if I'd dob them in, but tbh I don't think the mum is doing her kid any favours if they struggled to pass the 11 plus. I went to a very academic grammar and my friends who were at the lower end of the class mostly hated it and really struggled.

I'm amazed they don't prioritise places based on how well you pass the 11+!

InterIgnis · 24/11/2025 23:16

Trixibell1234 · 24/11/2025 22:24

This school is in the next town to me. If they were reported to the council then they’d have to prove they’d sold their house. Is that what you mean? Personally if I was applying for a school with this policy, I wouldn’t want to chance it.

It’s very competitive to get into this school. They can withdraw places if there is fraud.

‘May be requested’ is relevant here, and is something likely dependent upon the wider context (for example, whether the family have managed to provide the requested supporting evidence of the provided address being their main residence). There’s more leeway there than you would necessarily believe upon first reading.

There is a difference between a house left empty, and a house that has been converted from a main residence into a rental property with sitting tenants. The type and length of tenancy for both renting parties will matter, as will any supporting evidence of the new address being the main residence of the family.

Poppyseeds79 · 24/11/2025 23:08

grammarmom · 24/11/2025 23:08

I didn't say she cannot, I said she probably doesn't.

Right...

grammarmom · 24/11/2025 23:08

Poppyseeds79 · 24/11/2025 23:07

You stated she's British? And her Ukraine family members without residency are distant? Yet she's a single Mum, who owns a 5 bedroom house in a nice leafy suburb, and has money to burn for a rental property whilst paying all her relatives bills?... But she can't read English? 🤔

I didn't say she cannot, I said she probably doesn't.

OP posts:
Poppyseeds79 · 24/11/2025 23:07

grammarmom · 24/11/2025 22:59

I don't care whether she reads this or not - and anyway I doubt she reads anything in English.

You stated she's British? And her Ukraine family members without residency are distant? Yet she's a single Mum, who owns a 5 bedroom house in a nice leafy suburb, and has money to burn for a rental property whilst paying all her relatives bills?... But she can't read English? 🤔

LookingforMaryPoppins · 24/11/2025 23:06

Myfluffyblanket · 24/11/2025 22:04

I was wondering this.
He's either a vindictive bastard (and there's a huge backstory regarding his relationship with his ex wife) or he is extremely moral (and there's a huge backstory...etc).

Sadly the former!

AmberRose86 · 24/11/2025 23:00

grammarmom · 24/11/2025 22:59

I don't care whether she reads this or not - and anyway I doubt she reads anything in English.

Hm here we get to the nub of the issue, perhaps.

ShodAndShadySenators · 24/11/2025 23:00

I doubt it matters much anyway, because if the child only just passed (with tutoring) they're not generally going to be able to keep up with the pace of the school. In our area the grammars are super-selective so they pick the pupils with the highest scores, regardless of where they live. Maybe OP's aren't that selective, but the score gained is still important. They won't want kids that aren't academic enough and will drag their percentages down.

grammarmom · 24/11/2025 22:59

GrimShady · 24/11/2025 22:52

OT but I always wonder how people are so confident that the other mums they are bitching about or also not on MN. How do you know the other mother isn’t reading this thread?!

I don't care whether she reads this or not - and anyway I doubt she reads anything in English.

OP posts:
Poppyseeds79 · 24/11/2025 22:58

GrimShady · 24/11/2025 22:52

OT but I always wonder how people are so confident that the other mums they are bitching about or also not on MN. How do you know the other mother isn’t reading this thread?!

Apparently the Internet is shit in her crappy new rental so probably not 🫠

LookingforMaryPoppins · 24/11/2025 22:58

seven201 · 24/11/2025 22:03

I believe there are two pass marks for here, one for if you’re an autumn-winter birthday and one slightly lower for the spring-summer children. I’m not entirely sure if that’s true! My own child is in year 5 and a summer born, so I probably should find out!

They "standardise" the scores to allow for age - a child born 1st September wouldn't get any extra points whereas one born 31st August would get the maximum available.

No idea how they work it out but do know that even with standardised scores allegedly putting all children in the same position, statistically those born earlier in the academic far more likely to pass than those born later.

My youngest is a summer baby and had only just turned 10 when they sat the 11 plus.

When I was a child, we sat the 11plus in January - seems far more sensible and fairer that way particularly given the test covers year 6 Maths and English which clearly won't have been covered the first week of the school year.

puppymaddness · 24/11/2025 22:54

GrimShady · 24/11/2025 22:52

OT but I always wonder how people are so confident that the other mums they are bitching about or also not on MN. How do you know the other mother isn’t reading this thread?!

This is why I'm scared to bitch about anyone in real life on here 🙊

GrimShady · 24/11/2025 22:52

OT but I always wonder how people are so confident that the other mums they are bitching about or also not on MN. How do you know the other mother isn’t reading this thread?!

LookingforMaryPoppins · 24/11/2025 22:48

puppymaddness · 24/11/2025 21:55

Jesus what kind of a father is that.

Awful isn't it!

He was a father that was hell bent on making the mother's life as difficult as possible in any way he could regardless of the consequences to his children.

Really sad and shocking anyone would do that to their own child.

Tangit · 24/11/2025 22:47

grammarmom · 24/11/2025 17:14

Oh absolutely. The friendship is over after this.

You're throwing your dummy out of the pram and being ridiculous.

GrimShady · 24/11/2025 22:46

FlipzMilk · 24/11/2025 20:33

I was responding to questions. I don't believe in trans, gender, age or race. What is British is a question that has been doing the rounds now a days? I understand it means someone who has some paperwork and has been here 5 plus years.

It was becoming increasingly clear exactly what your agenda was.

FoxesSox · 24/11/2025 22:45

Mind your own business. You don’t even know the full story, having heard it second hand from a child. I would keep my nose well out.

wineosaurusrex · 24/11/2025 22:44

You sound awful! You're criticising a woman for housing her REFUGEE family members??? Because the home she is moving into is slightly closer to a school that you want your kid to go to? Could she not ummmm ... Love her family and want to help them stay safe during a war?!

You bragged that you paid loads for your house to get your kid into the school but now another woman has rented a house closer, she's suddenly a fraud and a cheat. Crazy.

M103 · 24/11/2025 22:40

In my local authority this is not allowed. If you own a place and then move out to a rented one, the place you own counts as the permanent residence. So if the school found out about the situation you describe tge child would loose the place. However, I'm not sure I would report my child's best friend.

cestlavielife · 24/11/2025 22:39

What is your plan b if your dc do not get a place due to siblings places and or distance ?
Reporting your neighbour does not guarantee your dc gets a place anyway

brunettemic · 24/11/2025 22:32

grammarmom · 24/11/2025 16:27

It might be legal on paper. But surely morally very questionable, and intentions must count in a matter like this? She already owns a perfectly nice house that she just invited some extended family to stay for a year to create an impression of moving out. There was no need for her to rent anything at all!

You explain the need in your original post.

Poppyseeds79 · 24/11/2025 22:31

Theroadt · 24/11/2025 22:27

Doubt the child just told the story my bet is it came out during sustained questioning by OP

No, OP stated this child is very chatty and divulged all this information freely... In fairness if that was the actual case OP wouldn't have to say anything to the school, as apparently child will out themselves 🙄

puppymaddness · 24/11/2025 22:29

Trixibell1234 · 24/11/2025 22:24

This school is in the next town to me. If they were reported to the council then they’d have to prove they’d sold their house. Is that what you mean? Personally if I was applying for a school with this policy, I wouldn’t want to chance it.

It’s very competitive to get into this school. They can withdraw places if there is fraud.

Yes fair that school does appear to be an example of actually requiring you to sell the house.

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