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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:
Original poster
Cornishwench · 15/09/2021 20:40

Yes I think I was expected to also be the childcare as well.

OP posts:
Hullbilly · 15/09/2021 20:43

There are too many checks here and you'd definitely be reported. People know who got a place and how far away they are from them if they didn't.

QuillBill · 15/09/2021 20:44

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?
Not all desirable schools are in more expensive areas. My dc go to an outstanding secondary and we live in a deprived area.

I know someone who used her MIL's address and got a place and then someone reported it to admissions and they wrote them a letter which asked for proof that they lived there. The place was withdrawn and of course all the schools had already been filled up. It was a right old mess.

The child would have to keep it a secret where they lived. Which would be tricky at secondary where they are getting themselves there and arranging to see friends outside of school.

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General education
TSSDNCOP · 15/09/2021 20:45

The game will be up when they do the home visits.

TSSDNCOP · 15/09/2021 20:48

Oh sorry just realised it's secondary

TubeOfSmarties · 15/09/2021 21:05

Having been a bit cross in my previous comment, I've read again and you currently live in the area, OP? Can't you just use your address and try to stay put?

Hotpinkangel19 · 15/09/2021 21:41

But surely as long as they are still in the catchment area when applying and getting a place there, it wouldn't matter if they moved after accepting the place?

EvilPea · 15/09/2021 21:45

The one I heard of was investigated and the child lost their place a few months in. So after settling and finding friends. Incredibly sad for the child (and expensive for the parents given uniform cost!).

Obviously haven’t heard of stories who have made it work.

It’s risky, personally I would try and stay put / renting or moving in with relative. It does make transition easier going with friends from school.

If not prepare your child as much as possible. No one deals with the unknown well

Babyroobs · 15/09/2021 21:47

So it's ok if it's in the best interests of your child and stuff everyone else's ?? Unbelievable.

ufucoffee · 15/09/2021 22:05

You'll be caught. If not by the Admissions Department, someone will tell on you by letting Admissions know what you've done. It happens every year. If the place has been allocated for your child it will be removed. Depending where it is in the allocation process you may not get a place in another school that you like. It's a very selfish thing to do.

xprincessxjanetx · 15/09/2021 23:02

No, I haven't and wouldn't do this.

simitra · 15/09/2021 23:14

Not a good idea if the poor child has a long commute into the school and someone is bound to snitch.

BoredZelda · 15/09/2021 23:35

Isn’t it illegal?

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 15/09/2021 23:56

If it’s secondary and they aren’t likely to move until next year, are they moving to the area or away from it? And are they in yr 6 now?

The crucial address is the address on the date of the application deadline, not when they start school. And that is next month. There may well be a ‘soft’ deadline for changing addresses in some LAs but that’s unlikely to be much past the start of next year. Seems a bit daft to put in an obviously fraudulent application when a valid one would get you a place.

Ionlydomassiveones · 16/09/2021 00:00

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Supersimkin2 · 16/09/2021 00:01

Doesn’t work. They check and people from the school visit you ‘to meet the kids’ ie to make sure the child really lives there.

Your best bet is to rent a place in the catchment area for 6 months.

Cocogreen · 16/09/2021 00:39

In Australia. In demand schools here in Melbourne cottoned on to people doing this years ago. They ask for several types of proof of address and at my local school
a staff member will do an unannounced door knock at the house to see who is living there.

PanelChair · 16/09/2021 00:53

As has already been said, this is likely to unravel very quickly, when the school/LEA ask (usually) for two forms of proof of address. Schools and LEAs are not sentimental and can and do take away places that they consider have been obtained by fraud.

Heartsinflowers · 16/09/2021 00:55

It’s only a problem if you get reported. I’ve never had to provide proof of address or utility bills when applying for a school place? I guess they may do spot checks and if so it would be unfortunate but other than that they don’t ask most people.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 16/09/2021 00:56

I would have no problems doing this,but we moved instead.

YourFinestPantaloons · 16/09/2021 01:16

@Heartsinflowers

It’s only a problem if you get reported. I’ve never had to provide proof of address or utility bills when applying for a school place? I guess they may do spot checks and if so it would be unfortunate but other than that they don’t ask most people.
I have a friend who works in school admissions and whilst there's generally no checks, what gives 'cheaters' away is that people grass them up. And if they're grassed up they look into it. And there will always be one nosey bastard noticing you live far away.

It may be in the best interest of your child OP but it's not in the best interest of a child who is entitled to a place if YOUR child gets in above them

Plumtree391 · 16/09/2021 01:31

I haven't but know a couple of people who did. It's understandable if you are just outside a catchment area with a good school and your own local school is rubbish.

BlackberryMuncher · 16/09/2021 06:27

@Supersimkin2

Doesn’t work. They check and people from the school visit you ‘to meet the kids’ ie to make sure the child really lives there.

Your best bet is to rent a place in the catchment area for 6 months.

The council are moving them, kind of shows renting privately isn't an option doesn't it?
blueskytoday06 · 16/09/2021 07:50

I know someone who did. They were successful too. I wouldn't recommend it as I know (through my job) that people dob others in. Not worth the risk. Nothing bad happens but you'll have the place revoked and potentially not be able to then get into catchment school (if it's normal round of entry).

Howshouldibehave · 16/09/2021 07:58

If the council are going to rehouse them, it will look very suspicious if they suddenly pop up on official forms as living at a different address!

No, I wouldn’t recommend this-it will go wrong.