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Original poster

I hate to ask and I know it’s bad but…..

179 replies

Cornishwench · 15/09/2021 18:30

Has anyone put a grandparents/relatives address down on a secondary school application form due to being out of catchment and successfully got a placement?
Child is in feeder primary
All family live in area
We live hear but may have to move next year
I know morally it’s wrong but if it’s in the best interest of the child?
Thankyou

OP posts:
Nahhh · 15/09/2021 18:30

It is morally wrong and could deprive another child, who lives more locally, a place.

I don’t think you should do it.

Hungry675tf · 15/09/2021 18:30

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CallMeRisley · 15/09/2021 18:31

I think it goes on where you pay council tax?

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IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 15/09/2021 18:32

Oh boy.
You are not going to get a good response here.
🍿

ShowOfHands · 15/09/2021 18:32

I do know somebody who did it. Got in a lot of trouble and lost their child's school place.

Why is it in the best interest of the child? If no other school can cater to their needs, then go through the normal channels and explain why.

Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 15/09/2021 18:32

@CallMeRisley

I think it goes on where you pay council tax?
This. The records won’t match.
IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 15/09/2021 18:34

Do you have to move?
Could you delay the move?
If you live in catchment now then you wouldn't be doing anything against the rules if you moved after she was at the school. People move for all sorts of reasons.

WimpoleHat · 15/09/2021 18:36

I know of someone who did this. Word got round and she was anonymously reported. She then lost the place….and didn’t get another one for a long time (as she got what was left after applications processed). People talk….

SilenceOfThePrams · 15/09/2021 18:37

If/when you are found out then your child will lose their space and be placed in whichever school has a vacancy. Which probably won’t be any of the schools you’d take as second best.

rubyslippers · 15/09/2021 18:38

You have to provide proof of address such as council tax bill / utility from memory
They don’t just take your word that you live at an address
So unlikely to even work

marioduck · 15/09/2021 18:38

That would be fraud.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 15/09/2021 18:38

It won’t work (because records) and you’ll be fucked for a school place. Sell your place and move in with the GPs if you’re that unhappy with the choices available to you.

Jasmine11 · 15/09/2021 18:40

If it's so much in the best interests of the child the only solution is to delay moving until they have the school place. I can see why people are tempted to do stuff like this to get a good school place, but most LAs are wise to this so you wouldn't get away with it.

RunningStrong · 15/09/2021 18:42

It was common at a school in worked at. They always got caught, lost the place and ended up at the bottom of the list of their 2nd/3rd/4th choices.

Over subscribed schools are very aware of it, don't like it and will follow up any suspicions.

SpnBaby1967 · 15/09/2021 18:42

We had to give our council tax number and provide evidence on our application so I doubt it's possible.

Original poster
Cornishwench · 15/09/2021 18:43

It’s a family member not myself and they have asked to use one of our addresses
( we have a lot of family all in the same little village)
I’ve said no but I do feel bad for the child
They have only ever known this area and the council have decided they may need to be rehoused elsewhere

OP posts:
TheWoleb · 15/09/2021 18:43

If you want them in that school then delay the move.

louloubelx · 15/09/2021 18:57

Depends when they are moving and when child is meant to go to school…if they currently live in the catchment then apply as everything will tie up. If you’re not planning on moving til mid to end of next year, they will have their place by then anyway and you haven’t fiddled the system

TakeYourFinalPosition · 15/09/2021 19:00

No. It’s not just morally wrong; and it’s by no means in the best interests of the child to lose their place, and be without one for however long it takes…

They need to delay the move, if they can, or just ride it out. Don’t help them to submit a fraudulent application.

PathOfLeastResitance · 15/09/2021 19:01

It may be in the best interests of your child in your opinion but what about the child who should get a place but doesn’t because of your bare faced lie? Also, is it in the best interests of your child to model lying to get what you want?

Lipsandlashes · 15/09/2021 19:02

How would you be able to? You have to have a council tax bill from the last year.

Monkeymilkshake · 15/09/2021 19:05

It wouldnt work as you have to give several proof of address for the parent and the child. So you could apply and lie on the application but at some point the school would find out.

SushiGo · 15/09/2021 19:07

If the council thinks they are best rehoused elsewhere, they will probably be better trying to settle into the new area, and finding a local school to that.

Traveling backwards and forwards to the village is likely to be expensive and not great for creating a true sense of the new place being 'home'.

I think you are right to say no. Its really hard when it's family asking these things though.

TintinIsBack · 15/09/2021 19:10

You’ll find pele in here saying you are an awful person, it’s unethical etc…

In reality, people do it all the time wo a backward glance.

Besides, you haven’t moved yet. It’s in the pipeline only. You might well not have moved before all the paperwork are sent (which I would advise anyway. It’s not that long away)

TintinIsBack · 15/09/2021 19:13

the council have decided they may need to be rehoused elsewhere

MAY. The key word here is may.

So they have no idea if they will move or when.
As they don’t know where they would go, they can’t apply for any other school anyway, right?
They need to do the application for where they live now. And then see what happens re the move.

Once they know where they will be (if it is indeed a different location), then they will have to decide where the child goes.

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