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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:
Mariell · 15/09/2021 19:14

If there is any suspicion they will get the info from your child by asking your child an innocent question.

Why put your child in a position where they have to lie if they are aware of what you’ve done?

Or if they are unaware imagine then having to leave the school and you having to explain why?

Lying on behalf of a child never bodes well.

Pixxie7 · 15/09/2021 19:31

It might be in your child’s best interest but it would disadvantage another child who is entitled to be there. Sounds very entitled to me.

Staryflight445 · 15/09/2021 19:32

It’s fraud and you could potentially land yourself in trouble for letting someone use your address in such a way too.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
Original poster
Cornishwench · 15/09/2021 19:38

It’s hard because it’s family and I can see exactly why they want to do it,they will probably do it anyway ( without my help as I said I said no) it’s a small village I think either way I’m going to come off badly if I help or not! Poor kid has only ever known this set of friends and they are a very very nervous child even with own family members.

OP posts:
MollysMummy2010 · 15/09/2021 19:40

I have this - a child who lives double the distance that the last child admitted is apparently from?? Who do you report to though? I put my child in this school thinking the other one would not get in and they are there and causing problems.

Staryflight445 · 15/09/2021 19:40

They’d be found out eventually. I believe it’s a criminal offence (for both of you)

You’re not helping the child at all, they can’t just suddenly change her address to her real home once she’s there and settled.

It’s utterly flawed, stop feeling guilty op.

Staryflight445 · 15/09/2021 19:41

I don’t know why I said her really but…

Angel2702 · 15/09/2021 19:45

The council employ people to check this type of fraud. You have to provide your council tax details, they will check.

Embracelife · 15/09/2021 19:45

If they move
Better to school locally
To get to know new community
You need to tell them that
No point commuting to school

TokyoSushi · 15/09/2021 19:46

We're applying this year, we have to put our council tax account number in the application so they can check.

Jijithecat · 15/09/2021 19:52

It's fraud. People have been put under surveillance before by councils because of this. There are even specialist solicitors that you can hire if you feel you've been wrongly accused. Don't do it.

Brollywasntneededafterall · 15/09/2021 19:54

I know of a Mr Joe Blogs who's df is also Mr Joe Blogs. He used his identity to nab a school place for his dc...
Ballsy but doubt I could /would do it.
Just be honest then apply for a transfer..

Beautiful3 · 15/09/2021 20:01

Our school checks all applicants via council tax. Quite a few mums got found out within a few weeks of starting, and lost their child's place. It's essentially fraud.

TubeOfSmarties · 15/09/2021 20:07

"But if it's in the best interest of the child"

This kind of entitlement winds me right up. Other children exist too, you know.

Don't do it.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 15/09/2021 20:11

Are they applying this year? Closing date is end of October, so if they don't get moved before then they should be OK.

Rubbish situation for the child though.

FrownedUpon · 15/09/2021 20:15

You won’t get away with it. Be very careful.

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 15/09/2021 20:22

This happened in my DS year. A 90 intake at primary with 95% of kids going onto the local outstanding comp, but this particular year a whole swathe of kids did not get in as the catchment shrunk in massively for various reasons. A Mum had put down her brothers address but lived way out of area. A lot of parents knew where she lived and that she must have lied, rightly they were furious and somebody reported her to the council. Childs place was withdrawn and for the remainder of year 6 that Mum did not have many friends......

DuesToTheDirt · 15/09/2021 20:23

I hate these threads. People pile in to say it's morally wrong to deprive another child of a place at the presumably better school.

So people who can afford a house in a good catchment area basically have a right to a better education than those who can't afford that catchment?

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 15/09/2021 20:27

@MollysMummy2010

I have this - a child who lives double the distance that the last child admitted is apparently from?? Who do you report to though? I put my child in this school thinking the other one would not get in and they are there and causing problems.
They may be a LAC. They may have SEN. Unless you actually know that the family lied about the address, I'd stay out of it.
Pebbledashery · 15/09/2021 20:29

It's inherently wrong. Please don't be one of those parents. You're depriving another child of a rightful place. As well as this, you won't get away with it. Schools employ more stringent checks these days. You'll get caught.

woodfort · 15/09/2021 20:31

You probably don’t want to get in any deeper than you already are … but so you know if the family member just thinks they can use your address and that be that? Presumably they also need to make some serious plans by moving bills around and things.

Clymene · 15/09/2021 20:31

@DuesToTheDirt

I hate these threads. People pile in to say it's morally wrong to deprive another child of a place at the presumably better school.

So people who can afford a house in a good catchment area basically have a right to a better education than those who can't afford that catchment?

Those are the rules. There are always people who can afford more than you can. Doesn't mean it's okay to commit fraud Confused
Pebbledashery · 15/09/2021 20:31

Or your family member shouldn't do this rather.

GreenClock · 15/09/2021 20:37

Commuting to school is pretty difficult, assuming both parents work. Who would get the child there and back? Would you be expected to provide afterschool care as well as being complicit in fraud ? Could get messy. They’d be better off accepting their new circumstances, getting the child acclimatised to the new setting and helping them make local friends. Asssuming they’re rehoused of course.

hotasharibo · 15/09/2021 20:38

I know of someone who did similar, child started at school (online learning) and was then found out and had place withdrawn
That might be worse for DC

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