Would you report someone that lied about their address on school admissions form?

[Peanutbutter37tuesday]

We live in a town where school admissions is very competitive. Our DS had to go to school 40 mins walk away (we didnt own a car at the time) even though there were 4 closer schools to our home, one just 5 mins walk away.
I know of someone who has recently got their child into an 'outstanding' school by putting their business address as their home address.
I really feel so uneasy about it. I know it's not really any of my business, but I feel so badly for the child that didn't get into that school, even though they lived closer than this family. The school is near 2 council estates and it makes me so mad to think that the parents of the child that missed out could have jobs to go to or don't drive and now because of these parents 'stealing' their place, they might have to fork out money for child care so they can get to work on time or have to go further to the next school.
The mum is a SAHM and the next closest school is 'good' so it probably wouldn't massively inconvenience her her DD had to go there.
WIBU to report it?

Does the child have any siblings? As they would also get into the school in future years ahead of other children that live closer.

I would report it.
I had to change my application form after I got awarded a HA property out of the catchment area. It was only a mile away from the property I rented and only involved changing my first and second preference schools around, but did involve DS going to a different school to his (day) nursery friends. (the other one was over subscribed to tends to be catchment only).

I would be very annoyed if DS was separated because someone lied about their address. The situation we had was understandable and we were lucky it was because we had some good news for once!

I'd report it. The LA can only do so much to enforce the rules. People would be more reluctant to cheat the system if they thought others would report them.

I have to say I wouldnt report it, instead I would attack the system that pushes people to lie, and gives un equal access to good schools.

All schools should be good. I think its utterly demeaning that parents have to attend church, lie about addresses, etc etc or physically move, all to simply give thier child a good educaiton.

Aside from the system demeaning grown adults in this way, who want the " crime" of getting thier children a good education, we should be asking, why have schools become so bad and so full.

I would do just about anything to get my kid into a good school and if that involved stretching the truth then I would do it.

If I could be sure of staying an anonymous snitch, then yes, I'd snitch .

Report report report !

Does the school do home visits prior to the children starting? In which case, surely they'll get found out anyway.
Otherwise, yes I'm another busybody and I would report it.

It happened a lot when my eldest started school.

I think quite a few parents complained but no DC lost places to my knowledge. However two years later when we had to apply again proof of address via parents council tax numbers was required.

I'm not sure what I'd do but others complaining seemed to have improve the system a little bit where we are.

I would report it - they are cheating the system.

Why would you be in trouble if she found out?

There's no reason why she should find out though, you can report anonymously and it wouldn't be hard for the LA to just check all addresses and see that one was registered as a business address then go from there. They won't tell her someone reported her, and even if they did, there are probably more people that know about it.

Report her!

People will carry on doing it if they get away with it.

If you are going to report do it soon. It would be awful for the child to start and then get taken out again.

How do you know that this is what has happened?

If they've gleefully boasted about cheating the system, I'd report them. But I'd do it now, because I'd feel sorry for any child who settles into a school and then gets turfed out because their parents lied on the paperwork

Perhaps if these pushy types were to concentrate on improving their local schools instead of abandoning them and lying to get into preceived "outstanding" schools, we might not see so many "bad" schools.

Just a thought...

Yes, I'm sure I had to prove my address for DS catchment junior school. He was already in the Infants. (separate schools but as one 1 site are included in sibling rule).

Thing is if it's a business address won't they pay Council Tax, utilities etc?

perceived

Do the LA's not check? We have to provide council tax proof of where we live!

I'd be very tempted to spill. Serves the parents right for being so brazen and telling people they did this.

Thing is I think you pay council tax on a business address? If it's a place that has living quarters, and permission to live on site then this will just back them up? I agree about reporting but am seeing there could be problems with proving it.

Yes I think I might. No wonder there is so much aggravation about schools and places when this sort of thing goes on. But if you do decide then don't tell anybody you've done it. I know this might sound sneaky but why should you suffer for obeying the rules. The more I think about it the more I think this sort of dishonesty is very very wrong. Other kids are missing out because of her lies.

I know this as a 100% fact.
I wOndered about the council tax too, I thought perhaps seeing as its a residential address they haven't registered it as a business address yet, is that even possible?

My husband has to pay business rates on our shop rather than council tax.