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Original poster

Primary School Application Fraud

41 replies

Whattodo3 · 10/04/2014 08:47

Ok I have name changed for this, for fear of outing myself.

My friend lives in a rented property and has been served notice to move out this summer, as the LL wants to move back in.

Thing is the house is in the catchment for the outstanding school in the town and both my friend and LL have used the address to apply for school places. The LL lives over 100 miles away at the moment so I understand why she's done it but it just doesn't seem right.

I thought the CC would have picked up on it but they haven't.

Should I butt out or report the LL?

OP posts:

titchy · 10/04/2014 12:26

The intent of the law is most certainly NOT on the LL's side. The Admissions Code is laid down in law and clearly states that an application can NOT be made from an address until the child is resident in that address (forces families excepted). To do otherwise is to commit fraud and any offer of a place will be withdrawn if the applicant is found out.

MirandaWest · 10/04/2014 12:31

BackOverBriefly in your case if the person moved after the date when places are given out, they would have to make a late application to a London school. They could have applied when they lived in Birmingham but would have been very unlikely to have got a place due to the distance.

Enjoyingmycoffee · 10/04/2014 12:33

Backonbriefly... I agree.

To report the landlord, when she fully intends to live in the property, before the term starts, would be vicious.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education

tiggytape · 10/04/2014 12:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BackOnlyBriefly · 10/04/2014 12:40

titchy you mean "The letter of the law is most certainly NOT on the LL's side"

Intent is something else.

OP if this plan doesn't work then get 'friend' to burn the house down as she leaves. That will keep the LL from moving in and their child going to the school and therefore increase your chances.

I imagine it's the catholic school place you are after?

BackOnlyBriefly · 10/04/2014 12:42

And has anyone noticed that this means there are not enough places for local children so it's necessary to cheat or sabotage someone else to get yours in?

tiggytape · 10/04/2014 12:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 10/04/2014 12:47

I'm amazed it hasn't been picked up on - I thought the entire reason there are 3 sodding months between application and acceptance was because of confirming residences.

Having said that it may still bite the landlord on the bum - dd is at a nursery attached to a school and we got a priority place due to being in catchment. The letter offering us a place also said something along the lines of "so if you can pop down to the school with the child's birth certificate and a recent utility bill."

The rules are the rules. If the landlord really wanted the primary place then they could have given notice in Sept 2013, moved back in in Dec 2013 and applied honestly in January.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 10/04/2014 12:50

Actually ignore my post. WSS to tiggytape

starlight1234 · 10/04/2014 12:50

Well your friend if contacted can answer honestly...

The I want my DS to get the place sounds like my 6 year old saying its not fair....

It is a very harsh system in many ways, people do move homes to get into better schools... Less affluent people are not as able ...

tiggytape · 10/04/2014 12:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BackOnlyBriefly · 10/04/2014 12:56

Yes the LL broke the rules, I get that. Though by the daft "you shouldn't get a place if you are moving" rule the tenant should lose her place too even if moving locally.

But why have we made it a contest that some win and some lose. Surely there should be enough school places in an area to fit in the number of residents with children.

Oh wait. I remember now. Some of the schools fill up places with out-of-area children who are more important because they are the same religion as the head teacher. I had a feeling there was some downside to that.

OddBoots · 10/04/2014 13:07

"I thought the CC would have picked up on it but they haven't."

Do you mean by this that allocations have now been done and notified and children of both families have been given a place?

If your friend was living at that address as their only/main place of residence at the time of application then her application was valid and as I understand it the place will not be withdrawn. The LL is however risking the place being withdrawn if the authority find out as the application is fraudulent in that they weren't in residence at the time of application.

tiggytape · 10/04/2014 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mintyy · 10/04/2014 13:14

Thank God you're here Tiggy. I do wish people wouldn't post on these threads when they don't understand the schools application process. Its just confusing for the op.

BackOnlyBriefly · 10/04/2014 21:51

Gosh! Perhaps we should create a system where people apply in advance to get permission to post on threads about applying for things in advance.

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