Is this admission fraud? AIBU to report it?

[grammarmom]

Here's the situation.

We live in a grammar school catchment area that gets smaller every year. When we bought our house several years ago, it was very comfortably within the catchment for an excellent local grammar (very high in the league tables), and oh boy was it reflected in the price. Now we're right on the boundary. Among the thirty or so houses around us, some children got in last year and some didn't, literally a difference of a few yards.

Another child on our street, who is in the same class as my DC, only just passed the 11+ (a few points above the pass threshold). We live on the same road, but they are about 50 yards further from the school gate. Based on last year's distances, my child would likely get a place while theirs wouldn't.

Over the weekend, during a sleepover, the child mentioned that her mother has now rented a house much closer to the school to secure a higher priority for admission. The tenancy was apparently signed one day before the cut-off date, making it "legal" for admission purposes. She still owns their original home, but the story being presented is that relatives who were previously "homeless" will now live there free of charge, and all bills and utilities have been transferred into those relatives' names (I strongly suspect that the mother will in fact pay these bills as those relatives are penniless).

She's even moved the children's belongings to the rented property and makes them spend nights there (they hate it). There's no doubt that once the school place is obtained, they will move right back.

This effectively pushes my child down the priority list and means they may now miss out.

Would this constitute admissions fraud? It feels incredibly unfair that someone with £40k to spare for rent can effectively buy their way into a top grammar school, especially when their child didn't perform particularly well in the exam (despite being tutored for hours every day).

Should I report this? I have no more detail apart from what this child told me (and they obviously weren't too sure about some aspects of it due to age).

If it’s legal, I don’t see what good reporting it will do.

I’d report it. If it’s legal then nothing will happen but it sounds very dodgy.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/jul/03/mrinal-patel-harrow-council-school-place

This happened in the past.

Schools know about this trick. I'd probably report it.

It might be legal on paper. But surely morally very questionable, and intentions must count in a matter like this? She already owns a perfectly nice house that she just invited some extended family to stay for a year to create an impression of moving out. There was no need for her to rent anything at all!

I doubt anything will come of it given it is legal.

No one is going to be arsed about morals …if it’s legal….then it’s legal

Maybe legal but bloody annoying.

Is there a requirement for this new rented place to be the child's main residence. How would the relatives living there and paying bills help with that aspect? Even if the kids stay there sometimes, wouldn't they have to live there full time?

Yes I would say she has spent money on a legal loophole that ticks the boxes spends nights (and can’t be full time due to custody stuff) she pays council tax there (usual evidence) and someone else name is on the other one

so no I don’t think you can prove fraud but could be wrong

and morals don’t come jnto it

It feels incredibly unfair that someone with £40k to spare for rent can effectively buy their way into a top grammar school

but you effectively did the same by paying over the odds for a house within the catchment that someone with less spare money than you couldn’t afford. So you also bought your way in. Thats the whole problem with the system

Well there is a need if she wants her child to get into the grammar school. You didn’t need to buy a house in the catchment but of course you did because you wanted your child to get into the grammar school.
Feels like snitching to me, I don’t like it. However most schools have a rule about properly living in the new house so there may be grounds for it not being accepted.
She sounds like a very smart cookie who will go all out for her kid so I’m sure she’s covered herself but you could report her, if that’s who you want to be?

The child gave a lot of information.
My kids at that age would have found that story tediously long and dull and switched off way before the end.
I cant imagine them retelling it in such detail at a friends sleepover.
Can see why this child (just) passed their eleven plus.

"It feels incredibly unfair that someone with £40k to spare for rent can effectively buy their way into a top grammar school, especially when their child didn't perform particularly well in the exam (despite being tutored for hours every day)."

But you buying a house to get in the catchment meaning someone who may have lived in the area for far longer could lose out to you is absolutely fine?

Shes played the game and done it better.

I would ditch the family, who wants to be around someone with those morals? I would tell my daughter to walk on by if they catch your attention.

The relatives are moving into her old house, not the rented one, to create an illusion of her moving out. I doubt they will even pay any bills!

It’s legal. Best stay out of it. Everyone wants to do their best by their kids, 🤷‍♀️

Well...you gotta hand it to her :)

So she’s moving to the rented one - that’s totally fine. They literally live there.

Happens everywhere u fortunately, only way around it is to move yourself.

There’s a lot in life that isn’t fair.

Some would say it’s unfair that some children get access to a better quality of schooling just because they’re academic enough to pass the 11+, but that’s the whole premise of a grammar school.

She’s acted within the rules.

It sounds like getting your DS into the grammar school is really important to you, can you honestly say you wouldn’t have done the same in her shoes?

Report it. They don’t look at addresses when investigating a fraud.

There's nothing to report, she rents a house within the catchment area and the family spends time there.
It's definitely unethical, but she's stayed within the rules.

I'm not entirely convinced it's actually more immoral than buying an expensive house within the catchment area specially for the purpose of gaining entry to the school. With either method you are using wealth to gain admission.

The absolute desperation of some parents. I’ve heard it all now.