Is this admission fraud? AIBU to report it?

This is classed as admissions fraud in most areas.
I don't know why so many people are so confidently telling you it's the same as you buying your house. It's lying to cheat the system and lots of schools and LA's no longer allow it.
Whether you should report it is up to you and your conscience, and it may not be investigated anyway. But it's likely to be against the rules.

I would just wait and see what happens. They might both get in and you’d have ruined their friendship over this.

I very much doubt one person moving closer to the catchment area will be the difference between your son being in or out of the final area so it won’t affect your son’s place.

I also wonder whether, if you were the person on the outside of your predicted catchment area, you wouldn’t have been tempted to try whatever you could to get closer to get your child in.

Ultimately, your letting your panic about your own child’s chances make you angry towards this other mum when, realistically, it won’t make any difference to your son‘s chances of getting a place as he will still be within catchment area unless something changes significantly from last year which is unlikely.

She still is your friend. She’s looking out for her children. You are doing the same by wanting to report her. Leave it alone - she isn’t doing anything illegal.
You feel it’s morally wrong - if you could afford it would you do the same thing to secure your children’s spot in this school?

I know we all want the best for our own children but this is some serious sour grapes and I feel sorry for your DC and their friend as their friendship will suffer due to a PAIR of sharp elbowed mothers.

If I had a child in my care, I would run a mile with it away from OP and the friend.

and it wasn't sly at all of OP to get this information from a child who trusts her...

Report and let the powers that be decide.

That said, you were happy to play the game when you thought you were winning but not so happy now you think you might be losing.

I have a friend that lives in Sevenoaks and from what she has said the competition has been v v fierce this year. I wonder if that has anything to do with VAT on the private schools.....

I doubt if councils have the desire or money to investigate if this is fraud so probably the child will get it anyway!

It would be meaner to a child in your care, to have them hang around imoral sly people, as they will be harmed.

If it’s legal there’s not much you could expect to happen surely. If it’s legal, I’m not sure on paper what the difference is between buying a house in good catchment area or renting one in catchment area. Unless there is some issue with the part where she moves back to their house… of course morally it’s shitty but then I think that’s the basis of the entire education system tbh in the uk! The fact there is 11+ still in some areas is the epitome of it

Yes but what is the definition of temporary and permanent? Lots of people move homes. You are not required to stay in your same address forever. Different councils have different rules, it may be until the place is offered; it may be until you start school , it may be for 12 months. I don't think any councils ask for longer proof than that.

It's an unfair system. Parents are going to play the game in a number of ways and we don't know for sure if what the other mum has done would be classed as fraud in their area, especially if she's made sure to sign a long term tenancy.

That's a bit mean to the child who I doubt was the instigator in this scheme.

You do displaced people fleeing war a favour and end up a displaced people yourselves along with dealing with them fighting amongst themselves, talk about gratitude.

In many LEAs this would count as fraud. I’m amazed at how many people seem to think it’s absolutely fine. For every place which is obtained through fraud, another child is missing out. Surely that’s not ok?

So what would you call buying an expensive house just to make sure your child gets into a decent school? Everyone wants the best for their kids, but most wealthy people I know only happen to be in that position because of generational wealth - one could argue that’s unfair.

If the other mother hasn’t broken the actual admission rules then fair play to her. You both (understandably ) played the grammar school catchment game and she might have played it a bit better/ more aggressively. It happens.

As backed up by the council admission procedure, owning two homes where one is TEMPORARY is against the rules. The other person has moved on a TEMPORARY basis, not even full time but ad hoc, to bend and manipulate the rules. OP moved PERMANENTLY to a family home which was in the catchment area.

Do you need any more help with comprehension?

Exactly. If the person was outwith the catchment but swooped in and bought a second home closer would the OP still complain? Because minority sure that happens all the time.

That's not true- you can own and rent you just have to prove that where you rent is your main residence.

How would you feel about pushing local people out of the area because you drove the house prices up so much? Do you think they deserve places in the grammar school far more than people who relocated to the area? I do.....

Quotes from OPs first post:
"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."
" It feels incredibly unfair that someone with £40k to spare for rent can effectively buy their way into a top grammar school."

Ok to buy your way higher up the list by buying a house, but not renting?!

If your kid is bright, they'll be fine in a comprehensive. Don't worry. Grammars barely have any impact once you account for pupil demographic.

and after all of this, it's very possible that both kids won't get in anyway.

Aside from looking like a pushy parent who might negatively impact on her own childs selection for a school place?