To be annoyed a friend lied about their address on a school application to get into an oversubscribed school

[Liverpoollass2]

I've recently found out a friend has lied on their school application by using another family members address to get their child into an oversubscribed school. The school is one I would have considered but would have been unlikely to get in as its very popular. Friend lives quite far but plans to move within the next few years closer to the school so wants their child at the school now. Its just annoyed me as I know many people who didn't get a place who are more local and feels Iike friend is misusing the system. Friend was able to get a letter with their name on it at the address by signing up for a credit card/store card I believe. I know its none of my business but I just feel annoyed about it now

Why are you putting your child through all that when you could let the LA know there a possible admission fraud?

Agreed it's bloody batshit!

She's not the friend you think she is if shes willing to let you go through all that and potentially deprived your child of a place at the school he should be going to just so hers can get a place instead!

I suspect if it was the other way round this friend and the OPs would have no problem reporting.

Not sure about fraud, maybe. But people will use funds to access schools for sure

Not your problem

This is the most absurd comment. Of course there will be loopholes - some LEAs are stricter than others - but for a foolproof system we'd all be complaining on here that our DC didn't get in because we didn't happen to have 50 pieces of evidence to hand. OP, report them. It's the only way people will stop doing it

So whose problem do you think it is?

You need to report her for the sake of your son! You are his advocate and it is in his best interest to go to that school. Your 'friend' may well think the same about her daughter but she is committing fraud to effectively steal a place from another child (potentially your son). She doesn't care about your child or anybody else's so why are you so adamant you can't report her?

Right. So you are happy to moan but actually do nothing…

A neighbour of mine did this a few years back to get her child in an oversubscribed secondary. Karma caught up with her and she had to withdraw her child when they got bullied.

It it’s primary school, it’s entirely possible the early years teams will do a home visit. It will then be evident that this is grandma’s house.

If you do decide to report, it will be the admissions team at your local authority that will deal with it.

Lots of people live in multi generational homes, unless it's a one bedroomed place it might not be evident at all unless its a full house tour

Obviously you'd have to prime the child not to blurt out the truth but as they are going to have to do that at school anyway I guess they will have that covered

At our school they do. The entrance criteria were changed to include children of staff. I assume it’s a strategy to retain staff.

People do this kind of thing because the system is so unfair and they can’t afford to pay the extra for housing in the catchment area. The reason why these schools are good is because parents do so much to get their children into them. Motivated parents who value education produce a higher number of motivated students who value education. I used to work in one of these schools and parents did everything to get their child in. The number of applicants for each place went well into double figures. It was the best school that I have ever worked in. Not all state schools are equal.

OP, it is obtaining services by deception in my opinion. Report to the local authority if they run the process, you could even report to the police (they would probably not get involved much but the local authority would probably then feel obliged to act).

You should feel no guilt at all about reporting a crime. Would you feel the same if they stole from a shop?

I’d do it like a shot, having been on the receiving end of missing out on a school place because of admissions cockups. It was the most stressful 2 months of my life and it had a serious impact on my child. If anyone was concerned about taking away a place and the damage on the child removed, they should not have done it in the first place!

Not really karma on her though hey given it was her child who suffered :(

I know quite a few people who did this when my DD started primary. They used a relative’s address or rented somewhere - this was coming up for20 years ago so surprised it’s still going on as I thought checks were more rigorous now (and easier due to ease of internet access) I only found out when DD was In Reception as met these parents then.

My kids go to an oversubscribed school. The amount of evidence I needed to send was insane. I had to send energy bills, with usage not just with my name and address going back months. There is a good chance she is going to be found out.

its also a crappy thing to do. A friend of mine who lives within catchment didn’t get a place at the school due to it being full.

I wonder what will happen when extra motivated parents enter from the private system due to VAT?

This is the new reality not some pie in the sky idea of extra funding

I agree with you btw

Well they will be, if you report them.

I would report them. But also mention in passing that schools do home visits.

We're you on the electoral register for that address? If nit you should have been.

Report them.

This is why there should just be a lottery/random allocation system for assigning school places, would cut all this musical chairs off 'moving house' for the best schools.

In my town it’s catchment, then siblings. This as you can imagine means that there are many families with children going to different schools.