Suspected School Place Fraud

[SchoolFraudDilemma]

This is more a WWYD.

If you suspected someone had fraudulently applied for a secondary school place, would you report it?

There is a very outside chance of an EHCP but it is unlikely.

I suspect that they've used a different address to their actual address when applying.

They live approx 6 miles from the school. According to the local authority data, the furthest place offered was 1.2m from the school.

Would you report it or just mind your own business?

Taken to another level, it's worth pointing out that school admission fraud could be a criminal offence under s1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006

Fraud by false representation
(1)
A person is in breach of this section if he—
(a)
dishonestly makes a false representation, and
(b)
intends, by making the representation—
(i)
to make a gain for himself or another, or
(ii)
to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.
(2)
A representation is false if—
(a)
it is untrue or misleading, and
(b)
the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading.
(3)
“Representation” means any representation as to fact or law, including a representation as to the state of mind of—
(a)
the person making the representation, or
(b)
any other person.
(4)
A representation may be express or implied.
(5)
For the purposes of this section a representation may be regarded as made if it (or anything implying it) is submitted in any form to any system or device designed to receive, convey or respond to communications (with or without human intervention).

Personally, I would report it.

Report them. If you're wrong they can show why.

I know someone who has done this... But they said that the gran would be looking after the child during school hours as parents are working and gran lived within the distance.

As if ! can you imagine the amount of tit tattling reports going in it would be impossible to chase them all up & do you really think they care about parents sour grapes

This has been going on for decades. It’s considered a white collar crime I wouldn't report because I’d probably do the same depending on the school

There are some places at one of the (selective state) schools we applied to which are reserved for pupil premium children. Would you actually know if they have free school meals. As a former free school meals child myself I would have been mortified if my mum had told anyone!

Unless you are directly affected by this you should MYOB 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Jontomsam

Unless you are directly affected by this you should MYOB 🤷🏼‍♀️

Do you apply that approach to everything?

Maybe they rented near the school and had all their bills sent there, paid council tax etc. We moved near to our school of choice in a rented flat for a year, and rented our place out, totally legit, then when the boys were in, we moved back, only 3 miles away, to our old home which is where we wanted to live. Maybe they did this, you don't know the details, people are allowed to move home once they've secured a place and people are allowed a second home.
I'd say butt out.

And really why have you spent so much time on this and how do you know the detail? There is so much going on around us and you busy yourself with this!

Really? Come on, mind your own business.
Hasn't this last year proved to you that life is to short to worry about things that don't directly involve you.

I'd mind my own business! This is such next level petiness. Unless you work for the Local Authority it's not your responsibility to be allocating school places or investigating any circumstances which may prioritise an application. People are obsessed with the outdated idea that allocation is prioritized on geographical location; it isn't. It's not the 90s, catchment area is not a "thing" in the way it used to be.

I would also report it. I see the heartbreak firsthand of some parents when they appeal a denied school place.

The right thing to do is report it because if they have done something fraudulent, they have wrongly deprived another child of the place.

If they haven't done anything wrong, nothing will happen to them.

So it could be an ECHP situation? Maybe it could even be a fLAC situation? But your green eyed monster makes you feel entitled to stick your oar in? Wowzer.

I tend to think people should generally mind their own business, but I’d be tempted to report this. If there’s a child whose missed out on going to a school that’s walking distance from their house because someone from 6 miles away has taken the place on false pretences that’s really wrong. Not to mention inefficient, and bad for the environment.

(Can you tell I live opposite a school that has parents driving in from miles around?!)

You must report it, or a child with poor parents may get into the better school. If they can't afford to buy a house within the imaginary lines, of course their children should not have access to good education.

I don’t see how you have any idea of an EHCP is about to be “awarded” (they are not treats as teachers and LAs are usually very dismissive even when they should be supportive.

@Toomuchtrouble4me

Maybe they rented near the school and had all their bills sent there, paid council tax etc. We moved near to our school of choice in a rented flat for a year, and rented our place out, totally legit, then when the boys were in, we moved back, only 3 miles away, to our old home which is where we wanted to live. Maybe they did this, you don't know the details, people are allowed to move home once they've secured a place and people are allowed a second home. I'd say butt out.

No, not totally legit, as has been described several times up front by Admissions officers. In fact your conduct is the very definition of Admissions fraud.

In fact your post is so stupid I wonder if it is a wind up.

They could have ASN. ASN/SEN are often awarded places first, even before siblings.

Home address is the last in the list of priority categories, most of which are confidential because of their potential sensitivity. Fraud is also unlikely now that many councils make significant checks. We had to provide 2 years' worth of council tax bills, utility bills, bank statements, all sorts.
Please do not disturb the situation, there could be any number of reasons for the place, none of which are your concern. I can't see how your "interest" reflects well on you, to whoever you raise this with either.

@Clusterfckintolerant

Home address is the last in the list of priority categories, most of which are confidential because of their potential sensitivity. Fraud is also unlikely now that many councils make significant checks. We had to provide 2 years' worth of council tax bills, utility bills, bank statements, all sorts. Please do not disturb the situation, there could be any number of reasons for the place, none of which are your concern. I can't see how your "interest" reflects well on you, to whoever you raise this with either.

This was our experience when our daughter got her primary school place. Ours went one step further we had to provide letters addressed to our daughter. There are many reasons a child from out of the area has gained a school place, looked after, ECHP , mother fleeing domestic violence. I am sure the school will have done all the necessary checks so you should really mind your own business

I mean who would want to do a 12 mile round trip twice a day if they can help it !! Madness especially when traffic starts building back up again.