AIBU to consider reporting a possibly false school catchment address?

Just mind your own business.

Don’t know the fact though do we?

Unless the parent had admitted it to OP there is nothing to report….

Don’t report on a feeling. Butt out. These things sort themselves out.

This is like someone who says: I don't care am I ok but let's make sure others are not okay

why on earth would you report a child's place? Report real criminals

Tell the parents you’re going to report them if you feel so strongly about it instead of making a cowardly anonymous complaint.

If you don’t have the bottle to tell them it’s you reporting them, mind your own business.

I wouldn’t get involved in anything if it doesn’t impact you directly.

I know a woman who has done this for her two children. Given her parents’ address instead of her own. It’s not great, but my kids have (legitimate) places in the school, so as far as I’m concerned it’s not my circus.

Bad karma to report people just for the sake of it. No one is going to die.

But if there’s a genuine reason why the local authority will just dismiss the report.

I see no harm in reporting to the LA. If fraud has happened they can investigate. If they have used another criteria (child in care, siblings, SEN etc) they’ll know and not do anything.

Ive seen these threads on Mumsnet before. For some selective schools you have to prove that you actually live in the address. They want to see council tax, utility bills etc. In one case the poster had to produce a letter from her GP to show the family was registered there. So proving you live at said address may be far more complex than just having access to any post that comes. As for using a house that you rent out what gaurantee have you that the tenants will play ball and not return any post marked as "not known". Such a tenant would have the LL over a barrel when it came to gaining any concessions.

In the city where I was born people suspeced of snitching can get a brick through their window - or worse. I would mind my own business.

“Karen” is a sexist slur

Absolutely don’t do this. Don’t get involved.

You don’t know what’s going on - the child might have SEN and an EHCP for all you know.

School fraud is not a victimless crime.
The displaced child can end up with no school or a school far away.

School places are not given out depending on how dishonest or sharp elbowed are the parents are for good reason.

I’d stay out of it as there could be a genuine reason why.
Round here we have to supply lots of evidence, things like council tax bills etc but I’m guessing this differs from one local authority to another.

That’s a proper Karen move that..

I personally wouldn't bother unless it was affecting my own child, and if that was the case it would have come to light before they'd started.
There could be a reason you don't know about. Perhaps they made a mistake - pretty sure they made a mistake when admitting my child, because he got in and others nearer didn't, but I didn't lie about anything.

I think as you are speculating,maybe put reporting it on hold. Then check that your own morals are beyond reproach. Then do the same for all your family and friends. If you find none of you need to be reported for anything whatsoever, then yes, get the child kicked out of his school.

None of your business.

The Mumsnet Mafia only believe in dishonesty when it suits them!

Think about the stress of other children who've had to go to different schools - potentially without friends or a familiar face - all because of somebody's dishonesty?

There are wider issue with school places. Secondary school building had not kept up with housing and primary school building where we are based (very expensive part of the country). That is the fault of those higher up in government etc, not the fault of individual parents who can’t afford to move.

And of course not! I’m a housewife who does hours and hours of unpaid volunteering and has never had a speeding ticket 😂

I literally couldn’t care less though if parents lie to get a school place.

Still dishonest.

You know what I don't get? Often on MN (and IRL often) people who just pay for private school are castigated and abhorred. Yet people playing catchment monopoly are just fine and dandy, apparently. If she has so many properties then she probably could pay for private schooling, but she'd rather lie and then displace a child who actually lives in the area from their rightful place.

That's not okay in my book.

MYOB. Think about the stress put upon the child having to move to another school. He's there now. Leave him alone.

Of course they might have a legitimate reason for being there. That’s not a reason not to email the school. If you’re wrong the school won’t do anything, no harm done. If you’re right though it gives the school a chance to act on it if they wish.

Rents them out, but she would move in temporarily if need be and say she was on a break from her husband. So zero anyone can do about it. She has secured her son a spot in an excellent school and I admire her as a mother wanting the best for him and paying through the roof for it herself.

There may be circumstances you are unaware of, you wouldn’t necessarily know if there were special needs either.

If you’ve just found out it’s also possible they got a place via an appeal.

What type of secondary school did you attend yourself? I attended an appalling one which was nearly shut down. House prices where we live are insane. Our local school is rubbish! My children will not be going there. I have one family member in a different catchment, another contact who would say we rent their property and I can afford to temporarily rent somewhere short term if need be. It’s important.

Unless you have spent 5 years attending somewhere with diabolical teaching and violent behaviour and disruption day in day out, you may not fully understand how far some parents are prepared to go to want better for their own children. I worked flat out to get myself into a top uni, and do not want my own to have to work as hard as I did. My children come before anyone else’s, and I make zero apology for that. I understand and respect parents who will do whatever it takes.