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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Secondary school dilemma- wwyd

142 replies

Schooldilemma2345 · 10/09/2020 19:12

My ds1 is in year 6 so we’ll be applying for secondary schools this October. We were planning to move into the Catchment area of our preferred school but our purchase has just fallen through. It’s so frustrating as we were due to exchange this week and it’s been going through since just before lockdown. The owners of the house were buying were planning to downsize but they’ve changed their minds and can’t bear to part with the family home. To make matters worse, when we told our buyers about the problem and suggested we might be prepared to go into rented for a while, they have said they their buyers (1st time buyers are having issues with their mortgage as the wife has had her hours cut considerably due to COVID). It looks like the whole chain has completely collapsed.
We have a holiday cottage which is in the catchment area of the school, it’s tiny (2 bedrooms) so we can’t move in (we have 3 dc) but I’m wonderIng If I ABU to use that address to get a school place.
I know is against the rules but what are the chances that we’ll get caught. In all likelihood we’ll have moved into the catchment area before the start of year 7....
I feel it’s unethical but I’m actually really desperate...

OP posts:
Thisismytimetoshine · 10/09/2020 20:24

As your main address, I mean.

OverTheRainbow88 · 10/09/2020 20:24

@donnadenise

Wow that’s a great achievement.

I actually teach there 😬 so know too well what the problems are!!

isitalloveryet · 10/09/2020 20:25

I know it's unfair and kids should go their local school but I would do what's best for my kids.

Tbh it's. I different to someone renting for 6 months to get a catchment area address, you own it I'd use it

fruitypancake · 10/09/2020 20:28

Yes agree, do it but tell no one. You've sold yours, the sale fell through on the one you were buying ( all true) so you moved into your rental property

SavoyCabbage · 10/09/2020 20:29

My BIL used his MILs address to get a school place and someone reported it and the place was withdrawn as they couldn't prove they lived there. Although in their case they didn't. They asked for all sorts of obscure evidence. Not just council tax.

They think that the person who reported it was someone who was at the pre school as my niece went on the transition sessions for the primary school.

They then had to apply for a school place from what was left because everyone had been allocated their places.

They ended up selling their house and moving to another city entirely and my niece started school after the Christmas holidays. The whole thing was disastrous.

RedskyAtnight · 10/09/2020 20:34

Don't you until January to submit the application?

End of October for secondary schools. OP was cutting it very fine to be moved in time as it was.

steppemum · 10/09/2020 20:35

Different LA vary about how they test whether or not the house is your MAIN residence.
Areas where the admissions is veyr tight and there are people trying to cheat the system do check, and they check thoroughly.

Many use the address to which the child benefit is paid, so that wouldn't be your holiday cottage.

I recommend that you move into the cottage, and apply from there.
You could then sell your house and be in a stronger position to buy.

You need to be resident from 31st October until September of year 7 when they start school.

donnadenise · 10/09/2020 20:35

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@donnadenise

Wow that’s a great achievement.

I actually teach there 😬 so know too well what the problems are!![/quote]
That's an awkward situation to be in!

Chloemol · 10/09/2020 20:36

Why can’t you move in? Lots of people have to live in two bedroomed properties with 3 dc

2 share, I gets own room, parents on sofa bed in lounge. Particularly if you manage to sell your own home. It won’t be forever

winterfruit · 10/09/2020 20:36

You'll get reported or the council will find out anyway. Most councils have introduced restrictions on people owning one home and renting/buying another (smaller) home near the school. For obvious reasons - parents were "renting" 1 bed flat near school and "letting " their 4 bed family house for 6 months...and hey presto, they get school place and move back into the 4 bed family house. This is fraud and is defrauding another child who genuinely lives nearer the school.

neveradullmoment99 · 10/09/2020 20:37

Do it. Others would. Why post on here though. You wont ease your guilt on mumsnet.

MadameMeursault · 10/09/2020 20:39

Do it. All’s fair in love, war, and school places. In an ideal world no-one should do this. But in an ideal world all schools would be good and no-one would have to.

I’m an out and out socialist and my kids go to grammar school which is completely against my beliefs. But they go because it’s best for them, and I don’t think it’s right to foist my principles upon them.

I know it’s not really the same, but I’d do what you’re thinking of doing. You’re intending to move to that area anyway. Just check what the rules are and how much proof of residence you need.

I hope you manage to move house soon.

Enko · 10/09/2020 20:39

OP Find out what your local council's policy is as some will look at your main place of living (big house) and not count the smaller one even though you pay council tax there and this could actually land you in a worse position.

Personally I would not risk it.

steppemum · 10/09/2020 20:40

@Flackattack

If it’s your house and you own you can do it. Schools get a list from the council. Even if you got dubbed in for not the main home you own it so they won’t care. What school has enough time to do house visits? You’d only get caught out if you didn’t own it!
this is not true.

In areas where admission is tight, they ar every tight about procedures.
They will use something as their basis, it may be child benefit address, it may be the electoral roll, but they use something. Council tax bill will clearly state it is second home. It is not enough.
Owning it isn't enough.
For example, divorced parents using one address to get the child into school can fall foul of the system if the child is deemed to be resident at the other parents address. hence the Child Benefit being used as a test .

Do people really think the council don't check? They do.

Iminthewrongstory · 10/09/2020 20:42

In a school near us someone did something similar-ish and they were found out, as I recall ,partway through year 7. Their daughter was pulled out of school mid-year and another child took their place - not great for either of them. And it made the papers!

Often there is a lot of hype about schools - sometimes the ones people are raving about are not all that hot and there can be excellent teachers in a school where there's been some struggles. I would put her down for the best one she is in the catchment area for - and if you do succeed in moving ,get her on the waitlist for your preferred school.

steppemum · 10/09/2020 20:44

So many people on here saying Just Do It really have not a songle clue about how the procedures work.

If you do it, you risk loosing your place. Move into the cottage and sell the house.

BrummyMum1 · 10/09/2020 20:45

Is your holiday house not advertised as a holiday house? Is it freely searchable online as a holiday house? Sod’s law you put the address down and one of the teachers has put up friends or relatives there. Sounds far too risky to me. Unless you take it off the market as a holiday let and lose your earnings from it for a whole year.

Pobblebonk · 10/09/2020 20:46

There's a high chance of being caught if you do anything other than sell your current house and move into the cottage. Schools and local authorities check particularly closely on people who move just before applying, and they will ask not only about your main address but past addresses and any second properties you own. If you try to keep quiet, they will have ways of finding out, not least from their own council tax records and those of their neighbours. They may ask for evidence including the address you have given for child benefit purposes (if you receive it), the doctors you are all registered with, etc.

I suspect you need to put your house back on the market and start looking seriously for a permanent home in the area, whilst working on the basis that if necessary you will move into the holiday cottage unless and until you can buy a house nearer to the school.

Disfordarkchocolate · 10/09/2020 20:48

So you are desperate for a school place in a nice area but not so desperate to put up with the inconvenience of being crowded for a few months?

You actually don't want to sacrifice anything for what you want you just want it handed to you on a plate because you have enough money for a second home.

Morally bankrupt and a poor example to your children. I'm sure you'll convince yourself it's fine.

Ideasplease322 · 10/09/2020 20:49

There was a big scandal at our local primary school when a child who lived within two streets of the school didn’t get in, but the grandchild of their next door neighbours did. The child lived twenty miles away! Parents though put this was fine because the grandparents did the childcare.

A complaint was made to the school, and that child, plus three others, mysteriously moved to another school in the first week.

Notverygrownup · 10/09/2020 20:52

If you sell your current house and all squeeze into the cottage, then you will be cash buyers and in an ideal situation to pounce on the next house you see without the stress of being in a chain. Could work out for the best?

GetOffYourHighHorse · 10/09/2020 20:54

I'd do it. You own a property in the catchment area with utility bills as proof. It isn't as if you're using a friend's address.

Franklyyes · 10/09/2020 20:55

They will check address against general database of all school children in LA If don’t tally will do checks - council tax, ask for utility bills on new address to show usage and so you actually live there. Some LAs do random visits on suspicious applications.

greengreengrass14 · 10/09/2020 20:55

Oh My God Poor You,
Having holiday cottage.
That must be SO terrible.
Tell you what, tell the schools in question along with the Education Authorities and I'm sure they can sort you out with a private school, you will have plenty of cash to pay the fees I'm sure.

Leave the state schools to those who really need it.

Showandtell1 · 10/09/2020 21:01

@MadameMeursault

Do it. All’s fair in love, war, and school places. In an ideal world no-one should do this. But in an ideal world all schools would be good and no-one would have to.

I’m an out and out socialist and my kids go to grammar school which is completely against my beliefs. But they go because it’s best for them, and I don’t think it’s right to foist my principles upon them.

I know it’s not really the same, but I’d do what you’re thinking of doing. You’re intending to move to that area anyway. Just check what the rules are and how much proof of residence you need.

I hope you manage to move house soon.

Youre a hypocrite not a socialist