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).

Seriously. That rent could have bought a crazy amount of extra tuition.

They moved nearer to the school.

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you can predict with certainty or have any proof that they will move back to their other house. So there's nothing you can do.

How do you know so much about this family? You know their kid's 11 plus score, everything about their housing situation, their relatives finances, despite them not even being friends?

That's why (non-grammar) the sibling priority rule is being removed by many counties. So parents can't rent somewhere for the first child, but then move as they are guaranteed a place for the others. Sibling priority must be banned all over the country - the catchment rule should be the same for anyone.

But here? It's legal, they ARE renting a property, and the only rule is the address at time of applying (or whenever that is)

It's legal, it's fine, you might not like it, but there's nothing to report.

Good thing if it also helps refugiees at the same time, it does some good.

There’s a village near us with a very sought after school and rentals are handed down person to person by private connection. It’s galling because these families could afford the private sector.

I don’t think it’s illegal though? It’s certainly unethical.

My understanding is that refugees have a five year visa, after which they can apply for indefinite leave to remain. If that’s the case they won’t be leaving in a year.
You do seem to know an awful lot about your neighbour, her extended family, who’s paying which bills and their finances in general . I don’t know that level of detail about my own family, let along my neighbours!

Yes, unfortunately the only alternative school for my DC is genuinely crap. And it's not just about one child, if the eldest doesn't get in, the younger two won't benefit from sibling priority (which would counteract the shrinking catchment), so the whole family is essentially f**d.

They are not on general refugee but on one of special schemes (that is renewed every year).
I know a lot as this is my DC's best friend, and I thought the mum was my friend too.

You don't cover yourself in glory here.

Why were you asking the child anything about it to begin with, let alone asking "a few more questions" ?

Suck it up, it's shit but people with more money always have the upper hand when it comes to stuff like this.

(we had the exact same thing but it was a deputy head who rented a house nearby to the local school - when they main family home was in another county but they let that out and moved into the rental!)

I’m confused how you know that relatives are refugees with expiring visa in a year. All from a child’s chat?

also what refugees are currently given visa strictly for timed period which will expire in a year? Ukrainians can extend their stay and they are the only category on timed refugee permission AFAIK

And she did all this secretly and didn’t tell you? What and then she’s planning to dump a bunch of Ukrainian relatives out on the street?

@grammarmom
That’s a lot of pressure to put on your eldest!!
Theres no guarantee they’ll thrive at a grammar school anyway…. I moved all of mine to a local comprehensive for sixth form, as they all hated their grammars. Then they flew…..
If I had my time again, I certainly wouldn’t worry about grammar entry as much!

They aren't your friend. You live and learn.

yes Ukrainian

This is clearly admissions fraud. It may not work - many LAs and schools would now insist on using the address of the house they own regardless of any story they spin about relatives needing to live there. You should report it.

Catchment is often a misconception.

In many local authorities there isn't a definite catchement area. After the higher priorities - looked-after children, those with additional needs that can be met by the school and younger siblings of pupils already attending - it's prioritised from the as-the-crow-flies distance from the school office.

Depending on whether it's a large birth year or a small one, and how many younger siblings get priority, a 'catchment' can ebb and flow a large amount.

Wow you’re going to report your kids best friends mum and hope they don’t get a place. And you questioned this child who innocently trusted you.

So you’re going to shit on another kid’s chances in the vague hope it gets your son in instead? He might not even be next on the list!

It’s a bit immoral of you all to break your necks to save your kids from the crap school those less wealthy have to rely on if you ask me.

Sure but the op is saying it’s done on proximity to the school gate. That was what I was questioning.

No you’re not. Your angry that the house you bought specifically because it was in the catchment area of a good school might now not be close enough for your own child to get a place there. If your child gets in will you be similarly angry on behalf of the children outside the catchment?

There’s nothing wrong with your move but don’t dress it up as something it’s not. This reminds me of a mother I knew who moved to a grammar school catchment and then went on to dedicate her life to their abolition after her child failed the 11+

Yes, exactly. And you can imagine how "legitimate" the whole situation seems when I had absolutely no idea that my child's best friend had apparently "moved" a month ago.

So if your child does not get a,place on distance you will blame this one person? You might not know if you one child away from a place.
You need to look for some alternative options.
or maybe the comp is not so bad. Maybe your house gamble didnt pay off. Maybe hers will. Maybe it wont. You just sound bitter ..

Same in mine. OP shouldn’t have grilled the child though.

She’s going to shit on her kids best friends chances. And she has no idea if it would even impact her kid.

ukranians have reputation of very shrewd businessmen/women in former Soviet block :)