To ask if you've ever been guilty of 'grannymandering'

[patchworkquilt1]

.... to get your kids into a certain school.
To accommodate your child minder / grandparents?
How did it pan out as your kids got older?
Did you get caught out?
If so what happened?

Could you not have just applied for a placement request. And explain why you need/would like your child to attend the particular school.

littlemiss Are you in Scotland? The Scottish system is very different from England and Wales. There isn't such a thing as a 'placement request' here, it is all down to admission criteria here.

@Jessstan2 SoyDora- Admissions aren't based on ability.

They are around where I live. The schools can pick and choose, so many kids (or their parents) compete for places.

In England and Wales, state infant/primary schools (which is what the OP was talking about) are not allowed to select based on ability. It is purely admissions criteria which are sorted possibly by catchment/sibling but then distance (ignoring specifics of adopted, religion etc).

"patchworkquilt1

And fwiw, it's not even a sought after/ high achieving school"

Just talk to the school then, if it's a sucky school that's not oversubscribed then they may make an exception.

They can't just 'make exceptions'!

If it is undersubscribed, the OP will get a place even from a long distance away.
If it is over subscribed then people who meet the criteria better will get a place over and above the OP.
The OP could appeal, but appeals will (should) not be upheld that take the class over 30 just because of childcare issues. Y3 could be different, but there is very little leeway in infants.

I would do it.it makes sense.

Sorry not RTFT but we have to give proof of address and also have a home visit too.

Pressed post too soon 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’d apply from your own address, the schools round here do have children from other areas and it tells you a percentage online - maybe on offsets or something like that? See if you can see any of the info like that.

They'd be able to check the council tax records surely and electoral roll, so unless you re-register yourself as living at that address you'd get caught. But then who is living in your real house? You'll then have to lie to the council about where you are living which could land you in a lot of hot water in terms of council tax and where you are paying it.

Move house or pay for childcare as others have suggested.

If the school isn't normally oversubscribed you will probably get a place. Can you find out if it is oversubscribed or not?

"you can still rent your place out if it needs sprucing up, just means you will get a bit less for it, some people are happy to take this to get the size or location of a rental property. Also may be worth renting to people on housing benefits, they can often find it hard to get anyone to accept thus likely to be less fussy on the decor."

Mortgage provider would have to agree to it being rented out, they may place conditions on that, or not allow it at all.

“I may have no choice but to do this”

I mean....you do have a choice not to do this. They’re catching people out on this so be careful

The LEAs are wise to every trick - there are so many ways of checking where you really live. My old school is highly desirable and parents have even leased/bought a flat near to the school the year before to give the catchment address, and have actually been caught out as it was not the main home - they got a visit at 9pm when the children were in pyjamas and told quite categorically that this was obviously their main home. Not worth it - and your children won't have any friends near home if you do this.

I feel for you OP. When DS (now 14) was little I wasn't in the catchment for the preferred school, but I was too terrified to lie on the forms. So I was completely honest, I literally said on the form 'I'm sorry, I'm not a practising Christian' (it was a faith school), '...and I do not live in your catchment, but I want my son to attend your school as it's the best in the area.' We got in. Probably that year it was undersubscribed, but I sent him there for 7 years with a clear conscience. I stomached the faith teaching (it was broad spectrum anyway) and he had a great education. Good luck, I really hope it works out for you.

can you rent your home out and move in with your mum for awhile, then be able to clear your arrears, get some savings then move back and retain your school place?

No. Our local authority makes it very clear that if you own a property that you have ever lived in then that’s what they will count as your address regardless of where you are living/renting. And they are also very stringent about proof of address. We had moved within the two years preceding the application and had to provide documents showing that we had sold and moved out of our previous property and purchased the new one as well as recent bills etc. It’s the same if you are renting ie they need closing statements for utilities.

Someone in my sons class did this. She applied for her child's place using her parents address, as they lived much closer to the school. She got away with it, but it's a huge risk to take and incredibly inconsiderate. It meant that my son didn't get his place at the school (7 minutes walk away) to begin with- he was allocated a school about 40 minutes walk away. Luckily he was first on the waiting list and someone moved away so he got their space. Had this not happened I'd have spent 10 years (2 children) doing that 40 minute walk twice a day. It would've meant I couldn't take the job I was offered a few months after my son started school.

My next door neighbour did it the parents used to drop him of every morning

Apply for undersubscribed school near her.?

Someone very close to me did this. I didn’t approve but she was adamant saying she wanted the best for her kids (like we don’t?!).

If your in a big city you'd be unlikely to get caught unless someone told. You will have to provide evidence if living there though ( council tax bill etc)
Best thing to do is get all the paperwork in place in advance and if you can actually move in with your mum then do so. Once your child is in then you are perfectly at liberty to 'move out' into your own place.
I do know many people who have done this, have rented near good schools, bought investment properties near schools etc.
Many schools will want to visit you at home prior to entry so have your stuff all around your mums and ideally have a bedroom for DD although they prob will just stay in one room and fill forms.
Tell NO ONE as people get jealous and will tell.

Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive! Very true.

Why would you ? That’s a twattish thing to do that can stop a genuine family getting into their local school

If your child is already regularly cared for by your mum, then perhaps there’ll be some leeway? Ask the local authority for their exemptions list, you never know

People who do this are single-minded and don’t think or care about the impact on another family. I would feel too guilty and always be looking over my shoulder!
The person I know who falsified their address is also an atheist but got her kids christened (for a faith school), attended church for a token few months then never went again!

The thing is, people may well find out after the DC starts school.

They see Granny picking up each day after school.
Parents chat to Granny who lets slip you live in next town.
Or the DCs chat and your DC mentions they live 2 minutes away from McDonalds or whatever.

One of the parents who finds out, has a friend whose child didn't get a place on distance, so tells them.
The friend contacts the LA to complain/appeal.

Worst case, your DC's place is removed after they start school, and your other preferred schools are full so you get a rubbish one in the wrong direction.

Or they come and do home visits in July/September. DC says they like visiting Granny's but it is a shame teacher can't see their real home...

1. when they write to you with the application process it will be at your current address??

2. annoyingly by lying you technically take the place of a person living within the catchment who is entitled to the school place.

3. are you happy to start a lie and expect your small innocent child to do the same, the questions from teachers, children in the class. Once you start lying things leak when it comes to playdayes and parties.

I appreciate as parents we do all we can, but equally find dishonesty disgusting. I’ve known people to do it and know it spirals.