AIBU to consider reporting a possibly false school catchment address?

[Annoymo]

I just found out a boy in DS’s class is going to a certain school that I know has an extremely strict catchment policy. I have a feeling they gave the in-laws address as the in-laws live near the catchment. We actually live close to this school than this boy so I’m really surprised they got a place. There is no SEN or sibling reason they got priority.

Morally I feel this is really bad of them but then I’m thinking why get involved. What would you do? How would you even report this?

MYOB. Think about the stress put upon the child having to move to another school. He's there now. Leave him alone.

Still dishonest.

You know what I don't get? Often on MN (and IRL often) people who just pay for private school are castigated and abhorred. Yet people playing catchment monopoly are just fine and dandy, apparently. If she has so many properties then she probably could pay for private schooling, but she'd rather lie and then displace a child who actually lives in the area from their rightful place.

That's not okay in my book.

There are wider issue with school places. Secondary school building had not kept up with housing and primary school building where we are based (very expensive part of the country). That is the fault of those higher up in government etc, not the fault of individual parents who can’t afford to move.

And of course not! I’m a housewife who does hours and hours of unpaid volunteering and has never had a speeding ticket 😂

I literally couldn’t care less though if parents lie to get a school place.

Think about the stress of other children who've had to go to different schools - potentially without friends or a familiar face - all because of somebody's dishonesty?

The Mumsnet Mafia only believe in dishonesty when it suits them!

None of your business.

I think as you are speculating,maybe put reporting it on hold. Then check that your own morals are beyond reproach. Then do the same for all your family and friends. If you find none of you need to be reported for anything whatsoever, then yes, get the child kicked out of his school.

I personally wouldn't bother unless it was affecting my own child, and if that was the case it would have come to light before they'd started.
There could be a reason you don't know about. Perhaps they made a mistake - pretty sure they made a mistake when admitting my child, because he got in and others nearer didn't, but I didn't lie about anything.

That’s a proper Karen move that..

I’d stay out of it as there could be a genuine reason why.
Round here we have to supply lots of evidence, things like council tax bills etc but I’m guessing this differs from one local authority to another.

School fraud is not a victimless crime.
The displaced child can end up with no school or a school far away.

School places are not given out depending on how dishonest or sharp elbowed are the parents are for good reason.

Absolutely don’t do this. Don’t get involved.

You don’t know what’s going on - the child might have SEN and an EHCP for all you know.

“Karen” is a sexist slur

Ive seen these threads on Mumsnet before. For some selective schools you have to prove that you actually live in the address. They want to see council tax, utility bills etc. In one case the poster had to produce a letter from her GP to show the family was registered there. So proving you live at said address may be far more complex than just having access to any post that comes. As for using a house that you rent out what gaurantee have you that the tenants will play ball and not return any post marked as "not known". Such a tenant would have the LL over a barrel when it came to gaining any concessions.

In the city where I was born people suspeced of snitching can get a brick through their window - or worse. I would mind my own business.

But if there’s a genuine reason why the local authority will just dismiss the report.

I see no harm in reporting to the LA. If fraud has happened they can investigate. If they have used another criteria (child in care, siblings, SEN etc) they’ll know and not do anything.

I wouldn’t get involved in anything if it doesn’t impact you directly.

I know a woman who has done this for her two children. Given her parents’ address instead of her own. It’s not great, but my kids have (legitimate) places in the school, so as far as I’m concerned it’s not my circus.

Bad karma to report people just for the sake of it. No one is going to die.

Tell the parents you’re going to report them if you feel so strongly about it instead of making a cowardly anonymous complaint.

If you don’t have the bottle to tell them it’s you reporting them, mind your own business.

This is like someone who says: I don't care am I ok but let's make sure others are not okay

why on earth would you report a child's place? Report real criminals

Don’t report on a feeling. Butt out. These things sort themselves out.

Don’t know the fact though do we?

Unless the parent had admitted it to OP there is nothing to report….

Just mind your own business.

Has anyone seen the effect on a child that gets no school place on Allocation Day?

Months of anxiety as she genuinely believed she wasnt good enough. Even after she was given a place on appeal, she believed she was going to turned away one morning. That there had beeen a mistake. Because the school didnt want her. (In fact, not being allocated the school initially was an error).

If you want a school tbat badly, just move close to it. Like normal people do.

Personally, fucking up someone elses life will play on my mind for the rest of my life. And if something goes wrong in my own dc's life, i will always wonder if karma has come back to bite me. But that's just me. I believe in karma and natural justice. So on this basis, i wouldnt report.

If op has got her facts wrong then it won't have an impact on the child so what is the problem

Are you actually serious? You don’t think there is an impact on false reporting when the Op has only feelings to off?

How about stress and and anxiety for the parents. This isn’t a quick phone call and it is resolved. It involves a full investigation which requires weeks gathering utility bills,tenancy, mortgage agreements etc.

The child will likely to be interviewed which can cause fear and anxiety.

The family will be subjected too the local gossip and rumour mill.

Stuff like this does get out and into the playground.
if all this happens there is zero accountability to the person making the claim but the family are left to deal with the fall out.

Onlookers rarely know the whole story about what is really going on such as temporary private fostering arrangements, eg care within the extended family for what ever reason.

False accusations cause fear and paranoia, especially if they don’t know who has made the report.

Maybe if the op knew without any doubt report but feelings aren’t enough to report. It looks malicious

I don’t think I would report
We moved house to the catchment area of 1 of the best schools in the country,paying a huge premium for the house
I would be a hypocrite to report another parent trying to get their DC into a better school
Why not focus on campaigning to improve all schools