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AIBU?

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Original poster

Temporarily moving for Primary admissions

135 replies

Humdingledom · 03/01/2022 05:20

So I know lots of people do this but can’t help but think it’s really fucking cheeky

We are lucky enough to live in the catchment of the most oversubscribed school in the city. The family of DCs friend at school left their house they own and rented very close to the school so their DC got a guaranteed place at the primary school, and now DC has been there a term they are moving back to the house the own in a different area. There are easily 5 primary schools between here and where they live, with some
of them also “Outstanding” but ours does have a certain reputation.

I know other families temporarily moved in with the grandparents to be closer in the catchment and have now moved back outside the area or are planning to.

Like I said I know lots do it but it’s very annoying when friends that actually live on the catchment border missed out for places at the school when they had the option of two schools.

Let’s be clear I’m definitely not being snobby, I think it’s actually really rude of people who have luxury of moving temporarily when there’s people closer who maybe can’t afford to do that missing out!

OP posts:
Chasingaftermidnight · 03/01/2022 05:23

It isn’t just cheeky - depending on exactly what they’ve done it’s potentially fraudulent and criminal.

FallonCarringtonWannabe · 03/01/2022 05:23

Report them all

PicaK · 03/01/2022 05:25

You have the option to report them as it is meant to be their primary residence. If investigated they would lose their place.
Although the renters you talk about would have been living there from before Jan 15th to now so that's a year. Which is quite a considerable chunk of time.

Original poster
Humdingledom · 03/01/2022 05:27

@PicaK

You have the option to report them as it is meant to be their primary residence. If investigated they would lose their place. Although the renters you talk about would have been living there from before Jan 15th to now so that's a year. Which is quite a considerable chunk of time.
I find that even more annoying tbh because lots of people couldn’t leave their house for the best part of a year just to be closer to another school!
OP posts:
Original poster
Humdingledom · 03/01/2022 05:28

I’m not reporting anyone but it is common knowledge among the parents so maybe someone else will.

OP posts:
Twinkleylight · 03/01/2022 05:28

How do they manage to get away with it because my council automatically checks your council tax records for proof of address. They can see how long you've been living at the address you've put on the application form.

Original poster
Humdingledom · 03/01/2022 05:29

@PicaK

You have the option to report them as it is meant to be their primary residence. If investigated they would lose their place. Although the renters you talk about would have been living there from before Jan 15th to now so that's a year. Which is quite a considerable chunk of time.
Quite ironic that they are moving back again on the 15th!
OP posts:
Original poster
Humdingledom · 03/01/2022 05:32

@Twinkleylight

How do they manage to get away with it because my council automatically checks your council tax records for proof of address. They can see how long you've been living at the address you've put on the application form.
I have no idea. I know that when I went to this same school many many years ago it was hard to get into even then - my parents managed to get me into the school before we lived in the area but they had bought a house in the catchment and we moved into it after a few months of me being at the school.
OP posts:
ElftonWednesday · 03/01/2022 05:44

It's surely not illegal if it is actually their primary residence when they apply, and when their children start at the school when they check council tax records.

Wormsarecool · 03/01/2022 05:44

I feel sorry for the child at the centre of all of this…other parents gossiping (probably overheard by their own kids, possibly losing their place if this is reported and general feelings of resentment all round. I’d much rather my child went to the less sought after school than all of that!

KiloWhat · 03/01/2022 05:52

I expect the estate agents love people like this

Original poster
Humdingledom · 03/01/2022 05:56

I’ll admit I don’t know the full story with their other address so they may well have had a legitimate reason to move. But the fact the child has only been at the school for a term and now they are moving again is irritating!

And to be fair to the school they must know this happens so I’m sure it’s probably legit the way they’ve done it.

OP posts:
WoodenReindeer · 03/01/2022 05:59

Reprt it to the school.

ufucoffee · 03/01/2022 05:59

Please report. You can do it anonymously. Your School Admissions department will investigate. It depends on how dishonest those people have been as to if anything can be done, but they know they'll have been identified and when it comes to apply for high schools they'll be watched.

cauliflowersqueeze · 03/01/2022 06:03

Absolutely you should report this. Just do it anonymously and school admissions will sort it out. How totally unfair on other families. Really unethical behaviour.

LizzieBet14 · 03/01/2022 06:11

What is the point of coming on here if you're not going to report it?

TheWayTheLightFalls · 03/01/2022 06:16

I’m not reporting anyone but it is common knowledge among the parents so maybe someone else will.

...or everyone thinks like you and they get away with it. Report.

madisonbridges · 03/01/2022 06:20

If you're not prepared to do anything about it, why are you moaning? Why should anyone else report it, when you won't?

ElftonWednesday · 03/01/2022 06:22

@TheWayTheLightFalls

I’m not reporting anyone but it is common knowledge among the parents so maybe someone else will.

...or everyone thinks like you and they get away with it. Report.

It may well also just be gossip and jealousy about money.
KiloWhat · 03/01/2022 06:24

If you report it is it likely another kid would have their child's place?

Grida · 03/01/2022 06:30

There are so many unfairnesses in state school admissions, I would struggle to get too angry about this. People pretend to be religious in order to go to better schools, some schools get specialist status so that they can be partially academically selective, house prices go up around good schools etc. Schools are not necessarily against it either. Keen, motivated parents equals keen, motivated students. It isn’t really fair that your child gets to go to a better school because of your postcode. It isn’t fair that every child doesn’t have access to an equally good education.

DropYourSword · 03/01/2022 07:00

@LizzieBet14

What is the point of coming on here if you're not going to report it?
To get something off her chest. To have a moan about something unfair and then move on. Jeez. This would piss me off, but if I was the OP I wouldn’t be reporting to the school either. Not my circus, fuck all to actually do with me and I might not have the full story. Why shouldn’t the OP just be allowed to talk about it.
ThinWomansBrain · 03/01/2022 07:07

@Humdingledom

I’m not reporting anyone but it is common knowledge among the parents so maybe someone else will.
If you can't be bothered to do anythying about it, why even give it headspace, let alone whinge about it on here?
notanothertakeaway · 03/01/2022 08:34

I know someone who lived in catchment for TWO WEEKS to secure a place at their chosen primary school. However, where they live, the only requirement is that your primary residence is in catchment on the date of the application. So, school were aware what happened, but couldn't do anything about it

ufucoffee · 03/01/2022 09:46

To people saying report to the school, the school will just report to the Admissions Department so always best to go straight to them.

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