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).

Why is her renting a house in the catchment area different from you buying one?

I know you say she had no reason to rent a house, but equally, you had no reason to pay a premium to buy a house within the catchment area, yet you did for the same reasons as she is renting one.

Rules vary. I guess the key question is, has she breached the specific wording of your council rules? Many councils are wise to people renting whilst still owning and have specific provisions around which place will count as address to stop this kind of thing.

If she meets the letter of the rules probably nothing to be done even though feels morally icky.

I know! Why buys an actual house to get into a school knowing catchments can change!!

I did ask the child a few more questions about the details because I was honestly appalled by the whole situation. What made it worse is that I had spoken to the mum just a few days ago, and she was just nodding along to my worries about the shrinking catchment... all while fully knowing she was already gamed the system.

She's already done it...she bought a house specifically in this area so her child can get in. And is now bitter that other people had the same idea. Interesting that she feels somehow her child is more deserving than the other one because they didn't perform particularly well. That child passed the exam, nobody cares with how many points, they are eligible to get in just as much as OP's child is. The irony on this thread...

Did you not use your own privileged position to purchase a house in a rather nice position to access this high performing school?

If so what is the difference with the ethos of what this neighbour has done. All she has done is show that there will always be someone with a bigger disposable income than you ready to take advantage of the rules.

The school system is rubbish. It promotes school runs, traffic, wasted time and lowers school performance. If everyone was made to go to their nearest school then under performing schools would end up with parents pushing and giving their assistance to improve things.

It's really none of your business who's paying the bills. Your nose is out of joint because she's higher up the priority and she's richer than you. It's legal so reporting it makes you look very petty. As pp have mentioned you are all as bad as each other buying your way into nice schools.

They've played the game, what can you do.

In my area, if they'd retained their main residence and were intending to move back there, then no, it wouldn't be within the rules and if that was the difference potentially between my kid getting a place as the next name on the list and not, then yeah you bet I'd report them

Can't believe you grilled the kid 🤣🤣🤣

Why are you appalled? She's done the same as you - moved to get into a school.

There’s a difference between admissions fraud and criminality - fuck sake:

This would be against the admission criteria in the grammar catchment I am in. You must have disposed of the other property beforehand or show a tenancy agreement for market rates of someone unrelated. Renting and then ending the tenancy to gain a place is admissions fraud.

Just report it. If it’s soooo legal then no issues will come of it.

Grilling the child over the situation is well out of order by the way.

Not the same as we would have bought a house somewhere regardless. It's a large family property, and it's naturally expected that at least one school-age child would live there, ours or someone else's. The school was one factor among many when we chose it, and it is hopefully our forever home. We didn't leapfrog anyone or take a place that wasn't rightfully ours.

You have to be dense to not see the difference.

Money talks, morals walk.

She may not move back, you can't know that. Haven't the rules been tightened up around evictions recently? She might not be able to move back without a fight, especially if her relatives get used to living there.

Please tell me what is incorrect about my comment.

I'll wait.

The difference is that OP has moved her family to permanently live in that catchment area. That's their home.

The other family do not, and are misrepresenting the child's main residence, which would be admissions fraud.

You bought your way in buying your house, she bought her way in renting a property. You've both given your DC an advantage due to having more money than those who couldn't afford to live in the catchment area. What she has done may seem unfair to you. The whole catchment area may seem unfair to families who couldn't afford to live in the area.

This exactly. Its alright as long as it doesnt effect me. Absolute hypocrites moving to ensure they get the school place but then moaning when someone has more money to play the game.

Am i reading it right that the OP thinks the house is intended to have xyz number of kids etc. So a single person, no children who just likes the house, can afford the house and buys the house.......is that wrong somehow?

It doesnt sound like the kids actually ' properly' live there. But I have to say I find it all so sad..What's wrong with this country that we cant provide a good education for ALL children. Why do ppl have to resort to this kind of ridiculous behaviour just to get their kid a good education. Mad.

it's legal, so it's not fraud?

It's not questionable to give the best headstart to your child as you can. You might not like it, but they're not doing anything wrong. It' s not a fake address, it's not a fake rental. Until grammar school ban rentals as an address- which is unlikely 😂 - people will keep doing this.

Yabu

Leave well alone

I would report them.