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).

You stated she's British? And her Ukraine family members without residency are distant? Yet she's a single Mum, who owns a 5 bedroom house in a nice leafy suburb, and has money to burn for a rental property whilst paying all her relatives bills?... But she can't read English? 🤔

I didn't say she cannot, I said she probably doesn't.

Right...

‘May be requested’ is relevant here, and is something likely dependent upon the wider context (for example, whether the family have managed to provide the requested supporting evidence of the provided address being their main residence). There’s more leeway there than you would necessarily believe upon first reading.

There is a difference between a house left empty, and a house that has been converted from a main residence into a rental property with sitting tenants. The type and length of tenancy for both renting parties will matter, as will any supporting evidence of the new address being the main residence of the family.

I don't know if I'd dob them in, but tbh I don't think the mum is doing her kid any favours if they struggled to pass the 11 plus. I went to a very academic grammar and my friends who were at the lower end of the class mostly hated it and really struggled.

I'm amazed they don't prioritise places based on how well you pass the 11+!

Maybe OP's kid will help the friend for hours and hours like he did for the 11+.

She is playing the system as she has the cash to do so. When it cones to things like this it is every person for themself.

I would report but I think she has covered all bases and nothing will happen.

If you see my other post they go into it in more detail. Personally I wouldn’t like to risk it, they are very over-subscribed. I think the school is pretty wise to the ruse (it’s a wealthy area where I think people do try and play the game of moving temporarily) - honestly I think they’d say no and go to the next kid on the list. They have their pick of clever local children. I’m so relieved my DC are all past this now and I have no skin in the game.

For what it’s worth, mine don’t go to grammar as they didn’t pass the exam but they are doing fine and I don’t worry about it.

Anyone else starting to realise this is a conveniently box ticky neighbour?

Some people are missing the point.

1. It's legally acceptable to buy a house in catchment to secure a placement.
2. It's legally acceptable to rent a house in catchment to secure a placement.
3. It's not legally ok to own a house in one part of an area and then rent a house that will push you up the admissions criteria. You have to have one or the other. Not both.

This has nothing to do with jealousy or pride. It's about the rules. The rules aren't perfect, but they are the rules.

The simple answer is that YES this is a huge red flag. There may be a genuine reason for the move however at face value it certainly does appear likely to be playing the system and if it is, it most certainly would fall foul of the rules.

You being able to afford your house in the catchment is of no relevance and not even remotely similiar. There are many reasons to buy a particular house, area and local schools both being popular reasons. The mum concerned could have sold her house and moved to a house nearer the school which wouldn't be a problem regardless of reasons.

It is no coincidence good schools tend to be in more affluent areas. Schools in wealthier neighborhoods typically benefit from higher local tax revenues, donations, and parental fundraising. This means more money for facilities, extracurricular activities, and specialized staff, which directly boost performance.

Parents in affluent communities often have more time, education, and resources to support their children’s learning. They can afford tutoring, enrichment activities, and advocacy for their children’s education, which raises overall school performance.

This system creates a postcode lottery where a child’s access to quality education depends heavily on where they live.

The OP being able to afford a property in the catchment area is of no relevance to the question posed. Catchment area has been a selling point used by Estate Agent for years.

It is the system that doesn't work, cheating the system excaberates this as does VAT on independent school fees increasing the competition for places in the decent state schools.

Rather than blaming the OP, writing to MP's about this ridiculous situation would be more constructive. Every child should be able to access a decent state school.

I think OP is concerned about the manipulation- and to be fair given the timing, the money and the way she responded to ops concerns it does semi the mother is manipulating the system, not playing it.
Given her apparent wealth it is possible this is not the first time she has manipulated a system.
i am intrigued though as to why she does -or doesn’t- do to make her money

This.

it sounds like you’re a bit jealous tbh.

she obviously wants it for her child enough to splash £40k, it’s probably quite a stressful process, I’d leave her to it.

kids will do well regardless of school if they have the right home environment.

YABU and technically it’s all above board as the kids are actually staying there for periods of time.

Well according to OP she's just a bog standard single Mum, who may or may not be a refugee. None of the story is tallying up to be honest? Because either this woman has married rich (then divorced) quickly, or she's actually won the lottery 😁

Lost me at the doesn't read in English comment, alongside penniless relatives? Because this doesn't sound like someone with family wealth, inherited, or a high performer in the city. Just some random mum who seems to have a disposable income from a magic money tree.

I'm sure OP will correct me that I'm wrong, but it's just starting to read as an 'outrage post'. With either details changed enough to not make sense. Or it's a never happened event.

…..well this comes across really well.

Oh my. She's not a refugee, to the best of my knowledge she's a British citizen although naturalised, with some distant family from that part of the world. I've no idea about what exactly she does for work, some sort of software development and sales. Why is it all relevant?

I haven't RTFT but what exactly is she protecting her young from?

That’s very insightful, and I think exactly correct. Both sets of parents are gaming the system.

OP only you can decide whether to report it or not.

But I just wanted to say that I hope that I can live out the rest of my life without coming across people like you. I really hope that you can take five minutes away from being outraged and read your posts, one after each other, and see how you are coming across. Not 'grammar-school material'. Slagging off an 11-year-old for not being as bright as your child. Saying that they won't thrive there.

Yes, education in this country has gone to shit, and yes, everyone games the system in one way or another, and there are very few of us who remain totally unblemished. If there's a sliding scale then you buying a house in the 'right' area is at one end of the scale and your neighbour doing her crazy rental gymnastics is at the other. They aren't comparable, you are right, but they are both gaming the system in one way or another.

But it is perfectly possible to have a grown-up, sensible debate about the ethics (and lack of) of grammar school bun fights, without being vile about a CHILD.

Shame on you, OP. Shame on you.

The crappy school which her DC is far too good for, of course. I'm sure many parents who can't afford to buy in expensive catchment areas feel the same.

'Protecting' though. That's an interesting word choice, no?

I used to work in school admissions and yes I would definitely report it. We'd ask for evidence in the form of what address is the dentist or doctor registered at etc.

Buying a house in a good catchment area is not “gaming the system”. It’s not some convoluted arrangement to loophole your way in. It’s literally just buying a house and living in it. Others not being able to afford said house does not mean the one who can afford it is “gaming” anything.

in any case, my responsibility as a parent is to get my children the best education that I reasonably can. It ends there. If I can afford a house in a good school catchment, then that’s what I’m going to do.

Sure, but the point remains that there is nuance there.

As long as it’s above board and meets their criteria then it’s unlikely to disqualify him.