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?

I had to provide council tax and utility bills for an application to a normal comprehensive more than 10 years ago. I think it is pretty hard to get away with applications based on fraudulent home addresses. I’m pretty sure a council will investigate if, you rent or buy a property near a school but haven’t actually got rid of your previous property.

I would report.
If you are wrong then no harm done as the child will retain their place.
if you are correct then the place will go to the rightful recipient.

Would you also report those families who start going to church just to get a church school place and then promptly stop going once the child gets in? Or families who pay vast amounts to rent houses next to over subscribed schools to then move to a cheaper area as soon as they've got their place? People will always play the system. But, in this case, how do you know that this family don't have special circumstances which have led to the offer of a place?

I wonder if the people commenting that the OP should mind her own business would feel the same if it was their child who didn’t get a place because other parents lied to get their child into the school? I have seen lots of children lose places because their parents have made fraudulent applications.

Exactly. So that’s why it’s fine to report and they will double check if it’s right or wrong. It’s a no brainer.

I just think jealous OP should keep her nose out, but if she’s happy to embarrass herself go for it

Jealousy doesn't come into it. Would you be jealous of the person that stole your car/wallet/phone? Jealous they had what was yours?

Or would you be angry/annoyed and want to get it back? And to rectify it and get it back, you'd need to report the crime. Fraud is a crime.

I would not report for the reasons already stated - it isn't your business and you don't know all the facts, but also, if other parents and then your own child's classmates find out that you are the 'snitch', it could become very unpleasant for your child.

Report. If they’re genuine, it can be proven and they have nothing to worry about.

No other parents would find out who has reported it.

But of they are innocent they shouldn't have to prove anything because of gossip

They may not need to prove anything. Admissions may know what circumstances gave him the school place.

It's annoying when people get things they are not entitled to, but you don't know if this is the case. Is it really worth losing sleep over? It's a free school place, not defrauding HMRC. The OP hasn't said that her child has been refused a place and this child has got one. There may be private family circumstances that have been taken into consideration.

She has clarified her child did not get a place at their local school

So what if she is "definitely" moving into that area? It doesn't mean what she's doing is right. When it comes to the distance from the school criteria, the council go by the address you currently live at and not some random address you might be moving to at a later date! I am truly shocked by the number of people on here telling the OP to keep out of it. If my child was being cheated out of a place like this I wouldn't just sit back and take it!

I’d report OP. If there’s something else to it the school/council will know it. They took the place from a legit kid and that’s not fair.

I’d report it. If it was a fraudulent application it will be dealt with and if it was a genuine application it will be ignored. There is no downside to reporting it.

Report them!! These kind of people need to be held accountable for their behaviour and lies and whether the grandparents are nice or not is irelelevant

Nope from me. You have no clue whether the child received the place on distance to school or whether it was one of the many other factors that can come into play.

Our LEA don't just check addresses but check the names on the addresses tally up with council tax records so it would have to be a well thought out long game on her part, if your speculation was accurate...