Temporarily moving for Primary admissions

[Humdingledom]

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!

Either report them or stop moaning about it.

Just like some people check schools before they move, some will delay moving out of an area to secure a school place - there is nothing wrong with that.

People who rent out their property and move in to a rental - even if they are living there are cheating.

People who deliberately temporally move to secure a school place are cheating.

It's such a risk on a number of levels, not to mention an expensive hassle moving and then moving back. And whilst I do agree it's unfair on those who permanently live within the catchment missing out on a local school place, I also think that schools can vary so much and parents all want the best for their child.

However, I have to laugh because in my town there are a small number of "outstanding" lower schools, the rest are all classed "good". Over the years I have known a number of parents who have temporarily moved to ensure their child gets into one particular "outstanding" school in my town (the one considered the most elite of the outstanding schools, mainly due to its catchment that doesn't include any council estates and includes the most expensive houses in the town). Without fail, these parents boast on Facebook when they get their kids into this school and freely brag about their kid going to the best school. Until recently, this school hadn't had a full OFSTED since 2007. It finally had an OFSTED in October and it has been downgraded to "inadequate". It's now the worst graded school in the town. Where as there are schools that were "requires improvement" a number of years ago which are now considered "good" and they continue to improve yet people turn their noses up at those school because they don't have the outstanding tag. I dread to think how many children the "outstanding" school has failed since 2007.

Picking a school purely on its OFSTED rating is ill judged. Picking a school purely on its OFSTED rating and then moving house to try and ensure a place in that school is utter madness.

That happens quite often. A nice middle class coasts because the parents carry much of the weight. Their SATS are high, the kids come in already able to read the parents/nannies have done half the work already.

Oftsed come in and look at the quality of teaching etc and see that it is inadequate.

Happened to a school where i work and also to the local one everyone hangs around on the waiting list for. Transferring in Y3 or 4 because they're been waiting since reception. A friend was very disappointed. Teaching poor, relied on parent - then all the kids she wanted her daughter to network with left for private school to cram for the grammar tests .

YANBU. It’s beyond cheeky - it’s fraudulent and it deprives poorer people of getting in to a good local school - it’s regressive and selfish.

I’d be dobbing them in to the Local Authority...

Picking a school purely on its OFSTED rating is ill judged

Particularly when it hasn't inspected in a long time. It really annoys me that a school doesn't get inspected for ages once it is outstanding. How do we know it still is? Things change in a year or two, let alone ten years!

No, it is also considered fraud if the family actually live in that property but then move back to their other property out of catchment within a short time frame. By some local authorities/schools

I find that utterly fucking ridiculous as a blanket rule.

The schools round here have siblings as second priority after catchment, so if you’ve moved out of catchment, siblings have some priority but all catchment children get a place first. Looking at the admission stats, for the most popular schools, it can be a lottery whether all sibling applications get in or not, so it would definitely put people off playing these sort of games.

@ElftonWednesday

No, it is also considered fraud if the family actually live in that property but then move back to their other property out of catchment within a short time frame. By some local authorities/schools

I find that utterly fucking ridiculous as a blanket rule.

Out of interest, why do you find it utterly fucking ridiculous?

Under what circumstances might a family let their house, move to a rented house closer to the school and apply for an get a place, but then give up the rental and move back to their original house soon afterwards. What legitimate reasons could there be for doing this? I can't think of any other than to cheat someone else's child out of a school place.

Also, around here, school plays a massive role in the local community withevents etc that take place. It's really lovely! Sad for families to miss out on that aspect by shipping the kids out 30 minutes away.