Another school fraud thread

[namechangedschoolquery]

The thread in active convos has prompted me to post something I've been wondering what to do for a while.

I live in an area of London that has one incredibly sought after school. Houses in the catchment are literally millions of pounds but there is also some social housing and a lot of people in catchment send their kids to private schools. I know of two families in my dd's year who have rented in catchment to get their oldest kids in. Local schools are ok but nothing special.

As far as I am concerned this is cheating. I always thought I would report this if I saw it and yet I haven't.

Would you?

@KaptainKaveman

Fortismere?

Good lord - when i was a kid, people moved house so their kids DIDN'T have to go to Fortismere! How times change

No I wouldn't.

We all do everything we can to give our kids the best, to achieve the best, this isn't any different.

I agree it is fraud and there should be a fine or children pulled from the school because of it - the punishment needs to be severe otherwise parents will continue to do it.

I don't think parents should be allowed to apply for ANY schools out of their catchment area - that might also cut down on the numbers of cars dropping kids off at the school gates

But the Ofsred rating system also needs to be overhauled as it's this that is causing parents to behave this way to get their kids into the "outstanding" schools instead of the "requires improvement" ones

Applying for DD school this year I actually have no idea why one of her catchment schools is rated outstanding - I thought it was awful when looking round; absolutely no soul. DD is going to a lovely catholic school half the size which was very welcoming when we looked round and actually came out higher on the Guardian/Times/local newspaper scoring 🤷‍♀️

Very dishonest

I'm sure someone was prosecuted for this in Harrow.

I think it's different if there is a selection process and the school allows some places for out of borough students though or is this no longer happening

I’ve asked you more than once as have others.

Apologies, yours is another thread. I’ve no idea how this cane up on my threads I’m on initially.

@Comefromaway appreciate the apology, thank you.

I got my 2 dds christened so they could get in the local school (naughty me)

Ah yes, like the increase in Church attendance when school admission time is approaching, never to be seen again until the nest sprog is of the age.

@OutOfHours

We all do everything we can to give our kids the best, to achieve the best, this isn't any different.

The middle classes who practise this kind of fraud can afford countless opportunities for their children - out of school activities, exciting educational holidays, home tutors etc., etc.
A good school is much more important to poorer children who don't have these opportunities and could well be crucial in their lives.

@OutOfHours

No I wouldn't.

We all do everything we can to give our kids the best, to achieve the best, this isn't any different.

Except the only people who can afford to do this are the middle and upper classes - are their children more deserving of their places at the "outstanding" schools??

We all do everything we can to give our kids the best, to achieve the best, this isn't any different

So those in social housing who would have been in catchment have to suck up a poor school because DM could afford rent for a year? Which child do you think missed out?

No worse than paying for private tutors for years in order to get your child in to a grammar school.

It’s not on natural ability if you need a tutor, but apparently that’s the done thing. Money pays....

I know a couple who split a few years before but stayed living together until their two children got into the outstanding, sought after secondary school that was just a few streets away. They literally put the house up for sale within days of their youngest getting his place.

Graveney?

I think the tutor is different. You are not committing fraud

SE/ SW/ NW? Whereabouts in London? Yes. Very common. School near us used to turn a blind eye but now cracking down hard. But i think their hand was forced by some legal action. Of course it's unfair and working the system.

Oh dear- I didn't know this was a thing. People have to be fairly wealthy to be able to do that. I think having a second home when some have no home is quite shocking. Whatever the reason. YANBU!

Of course it's fraud. Has nobody seen the programmes on tv about this? I worked in this admissions 10 years ago and the child needs to be ordinarily resident in the house they claim to live in. If the LA did a background check, spoke to neighbours (which they do) they would have their place taken off them.

Thing is it must be really hard to prove. Plenty of people rent out their house and then rent in a new area to test the waters before selling/buying, or when they start a new job. I’m not sure how you could weed out the ‘genuine’ people doing this and those doing it just to get kids into a school. It’s not fair, but think it’s just one of those things unfortunately.

@woodhill

I think the tutor is different. You are not committing fraud

No but you’re taking a place away from a child from a poorer background. Who is academically more able than the tutored child.

To give the bright working class children the means to profess academically. Of course when you’ve got money you can buy them a place at a grammar school. Taking an average intelligence middle class student, tutoring them to the point they are able to pass the test. Not an even playing field.

Also, renting a house in a catchment area is no more fraudulent than the above.

It’s not right, neither of the situations are right.

progress

I've emailed the LA and the school but as far as I understand the school manages its own admissions. Not sure that there will be anyone there over the summer. Nor am I sure that they would be inclined to do much about it. That said, a friend with dcs there said they were pushing for kids entitled for free school meals to come forward so maybe things are changing (or they are interested in the pupil premium).

Well done for reporting!! Wish there were more like you. It's fraud definitely!!

Very few people are off work over the summer. You’ll find office staff work all year round.

It's fraud. Report it to the school or local authority (whichever administers the admissions) and leave them to deal with it.