Is this worth losing a friendship over?

[Jojomiro]

Have namechanged for this...

Have DS (3.5) who will start school next September. Have a strong group of friends with similar ages children, so applying for primary schools has been regular conversation topic recently.

Found out one of the mum's is renting a place on the street of the school she wants her DS to go to (school A, which is 'outstanding'), but not actually moving. We live closer to school A than they do, but have little or no chance of getting DS in as it's still too far (we are 0.5miles, they are 0.8miles).

Since I found this out, friend has massively gone down in my esteem, and actually not sure I like her anymore. It even crossed my mind to report her, but I won't do that. Is this a massive overraction?

Like I said, I don't feel her DS will be 'stealing' a place from mine as we wont get in anyway, but I am quite upset/angry about this and think it's basically a really nasty thing to do. AIBU?

Ah x-post. So she told everybody.

" To everyone saying she will get caught - maybe. I think on paper she is doing the right things, but"

But this isn't the right thing on paper, as on paper you have to live in the area, and not have another house you can bugger off to. Even on paper, she's got another house! No doubt a "bigger and better" one, too, as it's normal for your primary residence to be as.nice and homely as you can afford.

Maybe she will get caught then...

I'd be secretly hoping she gets caught.

Will you be putting that school down on your DC's admissions form?

I can see what you mean Jojo. I think I would find this difficult too. I do see it as "cheating". I vaguely know someone that did this for their child going to secondary school and I thought it was odd at the time and pushy. I have sympathy in a way though. When I bought my house I made sure it was in the catchment for the school I wanted Dd to go to although she was only 1 at the time.

I think there is a big chance of your friend getting caught if she has told everyone.

It doesn't matter whether she moves in or not; it's the moving back to the original house that triggers the investigation and possible removal of the school place, as it's evidence that the rental property was never intended to be the primary residence.
She certainly hasn't discovered a foolproof way to buck the system; it happens all the time, and most LA's are wise to it by now.

Yes I will be putting the school down too, it is our second closest primary at 0.5 miles away, but I have no expectation of DS getting in, as the catchment area is so small - perhaps because of people like my friend.