Is this admission fraud? AIBU to report it?

Fair enough for owning that , in that case ( that you really can’t let it go ) you need to report it , but if it doesn’t go your way then you need to accept it & also accept that the other mum will know it’s you that’s reported , wouldn’t take a lot to work out and will probably ruin the friendship between your children . Thems the breaks .
As previous poster says we are all somewhat hypocritical and mama bear when it comes to our children

This in a nutshell.

You're in favour of sibling priority then?

So if someone moved into a house closer to the school than yours, and their kid qualified - and indeed shrank the catchment area - you'd be happy for your younger kids to have priority over that kid?

I suspect you would. In fact, if you moved further away, I imagine you'd still expect your younger kids to be accepted in their elder sibling's school. I mean that would be legal. Some might say unethical. But legal. And if it's legal, it's not fraud.

In other words, when you play the system, it's completely just. But when someone else does, it's terribly unfair.

You clearly didn't expect that this child would pass and are put out that they did.

A pass is a pass. It's irrelevant that they only just got a pass, they did and that's all that matters.

It’s the three Ps
you pay
you pray
or you p* off to another part of town

I have some similar age children in my extended family who would absolutely be able to retell that story in the same level of detail 😀. Obviously child dependant but some children are sponges for hearing and repeating information especially when it affects what school they might go to and the parents discuss it

Id report and leave it to the appropriate authorities to investigate then at least you've done the best by your child

And what’s your wish and best outcome, that it’s reported and the child no longer has a place? Would that make you feel better?

Presumably if it could potentially impact on her own child getting a place, then potentially it could make her feel a lot better.

Hmmm it always feels unfair when you’re on the wrong side of it. But you paid top dollar to be in the catchment … surely there are others who see your ability to afford the catchment as unfair. You have a right to be annoyed, but be annoyed at the system, not this mam. She’s just playing the grammar school game like you all are. She’s moved house to get into the school. So did you (even if you had other reasons to live there too).

If it isn't illegal and it isn't, then it isn't fraud.

I know people who used grandparent's addresses and didn't even live in the country at the time of applying. They still got a place.

She may well move into the rental for a year and then move back. And she absolutely won't be the only person doing it either.

School boundaries change with every new housing development. Unfortunately you bought a house that is more affected than others.

You can't do anything about it and you cannot possibly know all the circumstances around it. She can say she split up from her husband, she can say the original house no longer suits her needs.

Around here, the rules have changed to say if your first child got into the school, and you then move out of the area, the younger children won't get in.

OP is absolutely correct about how applicants for grammar achools are ranked once they have reached the qualifying score - ie, by distance.

OP, I encourage you to report asap, and to do so to the local authority in the first instance, as this process is coordinated by them. You should be able to report anonymously.

I sincerely hope you are referring to the adult friendships only here OP. Although it has everything to do with your DS and his friend, conversely it also has nothing to do with them. It would be incredibly cruel and unfair to make them end their friendship because of an issue they have no control over and to impose adult issues on them.

Edited to add: to clarify, I do appreciate how this seems like a personal I justice and would agree that it is morally wrong. But legal.

And what’s your wish and best outcome, that it’s reported and the child no longer has a place? Would that make you feel better?

You’ve done exactly the same thing as her. But she’s gone one further.

This situation isn’t going to bring out the best in anyone. I have a lot of sympathy for you.

I think we’re all hypocrites to a greater or lesser degree when it comes to our own children.

You have no right to be angry.

Oh bless him! I would have been the same if it had been an option (I don't remember ever hearing about them as a kid so assume we didn't have one anywhere near us). He may still choose the local comp even if he gets a place, might have just wanted to know he could pass the exam? Such a little superstar though ❤️ xxxx

Did you bring out the special sleepover thumbscrews for the Spanish inquisition of an 11 year old?

I can understand why you are upset.
Is the child living in the old house some of the time still?
I don't think I'd be able to bring myself to report it. I think you knew that there was a chance your DC wouldn't get a place with the shrinking catchment, but had some comfort that if yours didn't get a place, neither would their bestie. And maybe there was a part of you that thought your DC would get a place and theirs wouldn't. And you were OK with that because your DC was more deserving (scored higher, wasn't tutored as much, helped the other child out, lived a few yards closer). But now the other DC is a higher priority you are not OK with it.

They may both get a place, depends on number of siblings and how many other families have managed to move closer before the cut off date.

If they are actually living there then I don't know they have broken any admissions rules. If they are only living there on paper then many LA's would see it as fraudulent and remove the place.

I bet the mother is furious with the child if she knows how much they have told you.

This

If they're not living there, it's fraud. And they should not be offered a place over others in the catchment who meet the criteria.

People buy property based on school catchment. They also rent property based on catchment. As long as they are actually living there for a sufficient Period of time (often considered 12 months) they are doing nothing wrong.

the kid scraping a pass is irrelevant why do you keep mentioning this? If he meets the entry criteria he meets the criteria. You said yourself it's a binary threshold and that's all that matters!

No idea- I thought you might as you seem to know how many kids between you and the school- last year Vs this year.... I mean I'm sure you could sleuth it somehow but it would be a bit weird and stalkerish.

Yes, report it.

I regret not reporting a family. They lived way out of catchment, the dad was a property developer and they used the address of a property they owned but didn't live in.

https://watfordgramma.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/key_information/Determined-Admission-Arrangements-Sept-2025.pdf?t=1737547080

OP you are incorrect. If you follow the news you will have read that Ukrainian visas are set to be extended for further 24 months when the current one expires.
And you would also know that that they are not renewed every year, they were 3 years and 18 months.