Reporting someone for admissions fraud

[LaTristesseDureraEntre]

NC for this.

I've reported someone for admissions fraud/ giving a false address. Someone in my social circle. They've used their old home address for school applications, but that home is now a holiday let (they still own it) and they've moved down the road to a cheaper area. I sent the LA some info and will let them draw their own conclusions. I did it partly because it affects me/my family (in the obvious way - child in the same school year, tight catchment for desirable school). But tbh I find their behaviour awful so I imagine I'd have been minded to do it anyway.

AIBU? I know on MN the normal response is "keep your beak out" but, really, would you have kept quiet?

And no, before anyone starts, no “Ooh maybe child has special needs / husband is polygamous / there’s a special underground tunnel linking the two properties so that they are in fact one”. Just pure old address fakery. WIBU?

Sure tron - though there’s a bit of a wait still. I reported in a very, er, thorough way, so we shall see.

To whoever asked why I started a thread when I so clearly think I’m righter than a right thing - it’s not like I’m going to skip out the door talking about it and I wanted to vent.

I think it's good you reported it

I live in catchment area of a popular school. I know several people who rented just long enough to be in catchment at enrolment time, then moved on. It's allowed, so I can't do anything, but I think it's shabby

It's the old quandary between social rules and actual rules isn't it? It's one I find tricky. I don't condone it but not sure I could personally be bothered to report someone. I don't think you're in the wrong but I'm not sure it's worth the risk of you being outed. Totally different ballgame here but SS are very sloppy in keeping identities of reporters anonymous. Hopefully the admissions fraud team aren't the same!

To be able to get wound up about this, you have to start from a place of believing that some children are more deserving of a place in a certain school than others. I find that really uncomfortable, but obviously there’s no magic wand that could give every child a place in the school their parents want.

It feels wrong to criticise people who are doing the best they can for their children’s education when there are so many other parents that don’t care.

@AuntyBumBum

I don't think that one of the possible outcomes is for the child to be chucked out of the school once it's started there.

It is, actually.

@KneadingKitty

It’s an actual rule, you have to give your main residence, so even if parents are divorced you have to give the address the kid lives at more

The council look at who pays the council tax I believe, so would they still be within their rights to claim this as their address anyway?

@Zodlebud

Absolutely did the right thing. These people are literally BUYING themselves a place at the school. If they gave the school cash to obtain a place then people would be up in arms and shouting fraud until the cows come home. It's the exact same thing. Using their money to get a place that they are not entitled to.

But the thing is that everyone in the catchment has presumably “bought their way in” - by paying a premium for the house within spitting distance of the sought after school, rather than a bigger, cheaper house from which the children will only get into Stabby Comp.

All the “middle class” parents are playing the system, one way or another, to get the best school for their child (either paying fees for independent, or schlepping to church every week and running the Sunday school, or shelling out for a house in the right catchment area). So while I agree OP’s acquaintance shouldn’t get the place based on a false address, I don’t especially judge them for trying to play the system in a more dubious way.

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@KneadingKitty

It’s an actual rule, you have to give your main residence, so even if parents are divorced you have to give the address the kid lives at more[/quote]
I didn't mean that, I know it's an actual rule. I meant in the OP's position I would have had the quandary between reporting them for breaking the rules vs going with social rules that seem to suggest people should stay out of other people's business.

@KneadingKitty

No, it has to be your primary residence. You have to live there

@KneadingKitty

The council look at who pays the council tax I believe, so would they still be within their rights to claim this as their address anyway?

If you've declared it's your main residence, you need to reside mainly there.

@Macademiamum

I would not have reported them for using a home they own for school admissions. It doesn't seem like fraud to me.

It is. Another example of the 'haves' having the means to game the system for their own benefit at the expense of the 'have nots'.

I think it’s good you reported it. It’s for the benefit of children not parents.
The playing field is uneven enough without state school parents buying ways round the rules.

@Macademiamum

I think you should never report anyone for anything if you aren't willing to tell them you did to their face. So eg. If one of my friends started using drugs and I reported concerns about their child to children's services, I would tell them I was doing so.

This caveat shouldn't apply when children are at risk of harm

@Macademiamum

I would not have reported them for using a home they own for school admissions. It doesn't seem like fraud to me.

That's not the point. They don't live at the address they've said they do. I agree with @LaTristesseDureraEntre. Well done for reporting.

This is exactly why people should never discuss their business with people. The person OP reported is in her social circle so could even be considered a friend. Honestly I wish more people would understand this! Just don't tell people your business because there are countless people like the OP waiting in the wings to ruin something. Honestly be careful out there people! Even your own relatives can sell you down the river never mind friends!

Another example of the 'haves' having the means to game the system for their own benefit at the expense of the 'have nots'.

It’s not though. It’s at the expense of children whose parents can afford to live closer in catchment where the house prices are highest.

I hate threads like this. I mean report serious crime yes but school admissions?! Are you the sort of person who reports suspected benefit fraud too?

It's a kid going to school. They own a residence in the catchment area, so what if they don't currently live there they easily could anytime they fancied. I'd follow your quoted mn advice in the second paragraph in the op.

When my dd started primary in the mid-2000s I was shocked to realise that some parents rented properties near school to get their kid in/used grandparent’s address when they lived well out of catchment in reality.
Im not sure if I’d report or not, but it needs to be stamped out by the LAs.
We are not talking SEN here, btw. Different rules apply there anyway.

I’d also report. Follow the fucking rules.

I'm pretty sure we had to provide a council tax bill from the previous year when our first DC were allocated a school place. I'm not sure how it worked if you had genuinely just moved into the area, or moved within catchment...?

It feels wrong to criticise people who are doing the best they can for their children’s education when there are so many other parents that don’t care

The fact some parents don't care does not make it ok to steal a place from another child by lying on the form. That's what it is. Theft. Another child potentially In catchment maybe even with a sibling already there has had the life with local friends and attending school with their brother and/or sister stolen from them amd subjected to longer journeys and patchwork pick ups.

Do it the right way like everyone else. Go on the.lists. appeal.

@JaniieJones

I hate threads like this. I mean report serious crime yes but school admissions?! Are you the sort of person who reports suspected benefit fraud too?

It's a kid going to school. They own a residence in the catchment area, so what if they don't currently live there they easily could anytime they fancied. I'd follow your quoted mn advice in the second paragraph in the op.

So if you think the rules shouldn't be enforced, presumably you think there shouldn't be any school admission rules if it's fine for anyone to lie about where they live to get in?

How do you think schools should allocate places? Property ownership should have priority over people who actually live there? That's what you're implying.

Luckily all the people I know off who tried to pull a bit of a stunt. Ie moving in with parents for a bit or going to church then dropping all the church involvement as soon.as they got the form signed or over exaggerated their circumstances at an appeal well they all ended up having the school anyway amd ended up moving.

It doesn't always work thankfully. Served them right tbh

'So if you think the rules shouldn't be enforced, presumably you think there shouldn't be any school admission rules if it's fine for anyone to lie about where they live to get in?'

I think if parents own a residence in the catchment area that is good enough.

I couldn't live like this, reporting other parents. It seems so petty.