Cheating admission system

@SoupDragon but any family who get into the school by living close to it at the time of admissions can move out of the area?

If a family said 'we own a small house next to amazing school, we moved to this road because of the school, we plan to move somewhere bigger and further away just after dc gets into it so that we can be sure they have a place' would they be in the wrong too? Can you only morally apply to schools that you know you'll love close to for many years to come? How is the op different just because she's not selling?

Don't hate on the individual, hate the system in my view.

Neither of these people are me and the "children" are all in their 20's I think they are quite safe tbh.

Some LA's won't allow a change of address because of house sale without a completion statement from the sale. I presume to stop this happening.

Look I don't think you're doing anything wrong, how did every other child get a place at the school? Either the family moved to the town deliberately to get a place or they had no idea when the bought/rented and accidentally got a place.

If @Anonymousposter17 you rent out your current house and then rent your families house in the catchment you are not doing anything immoral, your DC has just as much right to attend the school as any other. The school are not going to discriminate between those with a mortgage and those renting and many people own investment properties and "rentvest" in the area they want to live in because they can't afford to buy.
I suggest you contact your mortgage company and switch over to buy to let and crack on.

I really can't understand what all the pearl clutching is all about.

Bloody hell this takes the biscuit in terms of mucking about with people's lives. Unbelievable level of entitlement.

It is quite likely that someone will report you. I know this, because I reported a neighbour who did the same to get their kid into an oversubscribed secondary in a posher area than the one we live in.

I know some people ( actually a fair few) who did something like this. They put their house on the market, got a sale agreed and used it as " proof of intention to move" then once their son had the place tooked the house off the market. Another bought a 2 bed flat in the catchment and had utility bills in their name, but rented it out.

Moving there when you are only there for as long as it takes to get a school place is immoral whether you live and sleep there or not. It cheats another child out of a place who genuinely qualifies.

You could also get a lodger this year to save up money to pay to rent the flat and then go and live in the flat. You would actually need to live and sleep there to not be immoral though I think

You should do it to get your child into the school for sure- I would if I could . I don't know how the council would find out you own elsewhere if you go on the electoral role and pay council tax at the new address? You can register at gp at new address too?
You can move house for whatever reason you like - people buy houses next to good state schools for exactly that reason, just because you're renting not buying it's the same thing.

But things to consider are-

Could you stick your owned home (perhaps with valuables/prize possessions locked in one bedroom, so if it's a 3 bedroom house you advertise a 2 bedroom) on air bnb for extra income/to subsidize rent to partners mother - you may not need to tell your mortgage company about this. I do this often when I go on holiday it pays for at least half of my trip costs. Air bnb has good insurance too. But you might feel safer asking your mortgage if you can do this short term or if they do consent to let short term - some mortgage providers will do this if people travel - but there is a risk they will say no then what would you do? But not telling them might count as mortgage fraud.

You could keep things as is but rent rooms in your owned house on spare room or on air bnb as lodgers so you can have very simple lodger agreements with them- this would help you pay rent.

Just take a loan out to pay rent to the mother in law - expensive but cheaper than moving oe private school fees

Would you need to tell the council your owned home is in that it's vacant or it's become a holiday let - that might impact your council tax but it's more evidence you don't live there.

Would this impact capital gains tax on your owned home? Probably not if you only move out for a year.

Would this impact your home insurance on your owned home?

Do not tell anyone and be very very careful about what you tell your child - if they tell their friends what's happening you could be reported to the council and then they might investigate

Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Really? You think he would have said lie and push your own family to the front to the detriment of someone else's child?

There's usually another option and the faith schools tend to be the one that's oversubscribed.

Jesus would understand sacrificing yourself for the benefit of your child! He was all about doing the best for others even if it’s to your own detriment.

OP do whatever you have to do to get your child a good education. It’s life changing. Screw everyone else, they don’t have your child as their highest priority.

I think you go in as a late transfer so aren’t included in allocations until later rounds.

Most of the primaries and lots of the CofE schools where I live have changed their criteria so faith isn't considered when accepting children for school.

They do it on distance like the majority of LA and academy schools.

I know the primaries in particular where fed up with parents finding God for up to 5 years before their child need a school place as it meant some socioeconomically disadvantaged children missed out. It also meant the schools didn't reflect the diversity in the local community, which I know is really important to some of the vicars.

Also as someone who lives near a church linked to such a school, I'm glad as the "pretend god-bothers" caused loads of parking issues every Sunday.

How does that work if you genuinely move house 6 months before applying for the place? There must be something in place in that scenario- they can't just base it on your previous address as it could be in another country or hundreds of miles away?

This wouldn’t work in my area - you have to move to the new address a whole year before even applying.
I can understand your frustration though, op. They whole process is crappy.

Because it’s the local school?

Wow and you actually think going to church makes you a better person.
It's Fraud and you are very likely to get caught and prosocuted.

I don't understand why people who don't want to be part of a faith insist on being giving preference to study at the faith school.

You need to rent out your place even if only part of it to get some income coming. read the policy re home address. It'll state whether you're permitted to still own a home nearby.

Like they will pop into my house where I have been living for the last 11 years asking: Hello how are you?

They can also decide not to have a sibling priority if they like. So whilst they have it now, they may not next year.

OP I don't think another house move would be seen very favourably.
However there are supposed to be proper consultations and sufficient notice given when schools including faith schools make significant changes to their admissions policies. I would recommend finding out more about whether this was done correctly.

If your first child gets into the school, it will depend on where siblings come in the admission criteria for the second. So it isn’t a given.

This is just a wild thought, but have you visited the school and visited or considered any schools that are in your catchment? You might be surprised if you do.

I think your plan is dubious to say the least and probably not in the spirit of your religion. I also think it’s a narrow view and you might find another school meets your criteria. If you don’t get a place at your first choice, you’ll have to consider others anyway.

It’s week documented that buying and selling at the moment is not at all straightforward, so that could scupper your plans.

@Anonymousposter17

The schools in admission documentation or the council usually say how many months you have to be a tenant somewhere to be considered at this location.
But it is also important how they define " nearby". Is there a specific catchment map? radius from school? You have to be attending church a specific diocese?

Are you sure that the church will give you certificate of church attendance or is it not required?

Also, please have a look at special needs criterion. It may be that your daughter fall under one of these.