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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to report someone fiddling the admissions system

153 replies

notwithme · 12/01/2011 20:19

A friend of mine sold their house and rented a house in our street.

They have sent in their admissions form, the deadline was last week.

They are moving out of their rental this week, into a much cheaper rental on the other side of town.

She says she is having her post redirected so she doesn't miss the schools offer.

It's an oversubscribed school and even some children who attend the pre-school don't get in if they are out of catchment.

I'm not normally the whistle blowing type but this has really annoyed me.

OP posts:
TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 13/01/2011 09:19

Well report her then.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 13/01/2011 09:33

At the moment though she hasn't actually breached the rules as all she actually hasn't moved yet.

I'd have some evidence though because the school probably isn't going to spend time/resources to investigate. They will just ask her to confirm address and she has probably thought about what to tell them.

The other aspect is that the rules don't actually say that a child will lose a place, but rather that the parent must inform the school of change of address.

Sullwah · 13/01/2011 09:41

I think if she has not moved out yet, it is only fair that you let her know that you will report her if she moves to the other side of town.

It will give her a chance to re-think and stay put.

Though I am not sure why you think you have become the admissions police!

haggis01 · 13/01/2011 09:57

If she played the system correctly - i.e. she has met all the eligibility rules then technically she has done nothing wrong, so there is no point in complaining. Morally it is another question but most people do desperate things for the sake of their children.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 13/01/2011 10:08

haggis01 - I don't think in these cases the moral and legal questions are any different. The system is entirely arbitrary and artificial.

Pinkjenny · 13/01/2011 10:13

I'd probably tell her I thought it was outrageous and keep my distance a bit. Not sure I'd report her.

NellieForbush · 13/01/2011 10:47

mercibucket

'almost anyone can afford to rent for 6 months'

Hmm maybe on the planet you live on...

ccpccp · 13/01/2011 10:56

YANBU. Report her. Shes taking the piss.

She has stolen another childs place for her own - its that simple.

Disgraceful behaviour.

Onetoomanycornettos · 13/01/2011 10:56

I would not report her, as I don't consider policing the ridiculous educational policy regarding admissions as part of my remit as a 'friend' (ha ha), but it would make me feel differently about her. Plus you can't actually prove that her marriage was not struggling.

What is more crazy is that in this country, it's difficult to move and still have your child go to a reasonable school. There's a complete limit on mobility for this reason, if you get a new job, you can't apply for schools til you actually live there, but if you roll up in August in a new area, even if you've known for six months you have that new job, you have to go in the 'spaces' which are invariably in crap schools miles from where you actually live. This has deterred us from moving for contract work many a time, why risk going to the worst school around once you arrive in an area.

nowwearefour · 13/01/2011 10:57

i think that she might well have to prove she lives there when the place is offered. i do not think it is at all cowardly to anonymously report her. i would report. it is dispicable, selfish behaviour and why should she get away with it. i think that reporting is the right and brave thing to do. my next door neighbour is an illegal childminder and th eonly reason i dont report her is that i am sure she'd find out and it would be v awkward. i am being the coward.

katiestar · 13/01/2011 11:03

In our LEA the address is the one you were at as at the date the deadline for submitting forms, so she'd be fine.
I'd stay out of it though, it really is none of your business

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 13/01/2011 11:04

cccpccp - Assuming she is acting outside the rules how has she stolen a place any more than some one acting inside the rules has? A child that gets in legitimately excludes exactly as many children as one who gets in illegitimately. The system is broken.

Blu · 13/01/2011 11:10

Or to put it another way, OP, only people who can afford expensive rents can get into the school??

It sounds as if she has deliberately played the system rather than cheated it, and I hate the effect this sort of thing has on the whole admissions system. One of the worst effects is that the siblings of poeple who have moved away then take precedence over newcomers into the original rented property who are then unable to get into thier nearest school. OR the next tennants do exactly the same thing, producing yet more out of catchement siblings and an ever spiralling number of siblings to take precedence over local residents.

Onetoomanycornettos · 13/01/2011 11:11

TCNY, I agree, many people on the free meals thread have argued that it's not fair to take free meals away as it punishes the child for the sins of the parent. Surely this is similar, how is this child 'not worthy' of this place and 'depriving others' if you believe everyone should have the right to go to a good school?

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 13/01/2011 11:15

Yep - Someone who moved into a house next to a good school 10 years ago is just as 'selfish' by sending their child there as someone who plays the system to do so. In both cases someone else ends up at a worse school.

Original poster
notwithme · 13/01/2011 11:16

I don't see why this is about money. The school in question has a wide mix of intake, a good proportion on free school meals etc. It's a good mix. But for every child who is driven across town to an oversubscribed school there is another driven in the opposite direction.

Actually what you are saying is only children with parents dishonest enough to play the system deserve to get into good schools.

OP posts:
TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 13/01/2011 11:19

notwithme - but it takes money to play the system - whether that is buy moving into catchment, renting whatever. So people with less money are excluded from that opportunity.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 13/01/2011 11:21

And I would disagree that playing the system is dishonest. Moving into a house in catchment and staying there is just as much playing the system as renting then moving.

Original poster
notwithme · 13/01/2011 11:22

Exactly! And that's why I'm so annoyed by it.

OP posts:
coatgate · 13/01/2011 11:23

So she wants the best for her DC? Whilst I am sure you are angry, and this will affect your friendship, I wouldn't report her - if only because I believe in karma.

feistychickfightingthebull · 13/01/2011 11:26

yabu, just stay out of it - it is really none of your business. There is also no guarantee that your friends' children will be allocated a place at the school anyway if you tell

ISNT · 13/01/2011 11:29

I would not report if it were my friend, no way. I might feel a little that it was off as rather transparent, but I would understand.

As people point out, it's no different to someone richer who can afford to buy near to this school and stay there.

You also need to think about the consequences.

In our borough, where all local schools are oversubscribed, there would be a negative consequence for the child. As if I reported the friend, and they got their place declined as a result, then it's possible the child wouldn't get a place at all, or if they did it might be a monster commute across the borough. Both of those outcomes are dire for the child, and that is another reason I would not report.

ISNT · 13/01/2011 11:32

Plus the fact is that she has not lied. She has not committed fraud, she has kept within the letter of the system but not the spirit.

TBH some schools are wise to this sort of thing and carry out further checks, so you may get your wish after all, the child may still not get the place.

Mishy1234 · 13/01/2011 11:35

IMO what she is doing IS wrong.

However, the 'good' schools are often the ones in more affluent areas. Why should those with the money to live in the more expensive areas be entitled to a better education for their children than those with less money? If there was a decent standards of schools across the board then people wouldn't feel the need to cheat the system. They don't do it just to piss the locals off you know!

nobodyisasomebody · 13/01/2011 11:37

It is fraud and dishonest.

Glad I am not in your shoes. I don't know what I would do.

It reminds me of the debate around reporting those thought to be dishonestly claiming benefits.

How many of those saying don't report would also not report a suspected benefit cheat?