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Original poster

IF you knew some people who have cheated on their registred address in order to get their kids in the best school...

99 replies

Summerfruitfullofscaryworms · 09/10/2007 12:18

Would you do report them or would you do nothing ? I know some people who have managed to cheat...they are "renting" a place just near the school where everybody want to put their kids (including me) but they are not leaving there..they are at least 1 mile from this school so not in the catchment...my dd is probably going to be refused a place because we are living at 547 m from the school and the limit is 532 m...I feel like crying, it's so unfair, I feel powerless. What would you do ??

OP posts:

boomie · 09/10/2007 12:21

I know of at least 5 parents in DDs year that have done this - giving false addresses (ie the child's grandparents) who do live in the catchment area. TBH I did nothing as DD got her place - however, would I report it if DD had been refused - not sure?

Original poster

Summerfruitfullofscaryworms · 09/10/2007 12:23

I cant bear it...it's so unfair...I'm not made of money, I have to accept the situation as it is..Thanks for your answer !

OP posts:

Freckle · 09/10/2007 12:23

Check with the school about what checks they make to ensure people aren't cheating. At our local infant school, they insist on seeing a recent child benefit statement, as people often give false addresses or even rent, but rarely think to change the address for payment of child benefit.

CarGirl · 09/10/2007 12:24

there was a thread about this not so long back I the out come was that most people would report!!

GreatHauntieWurly · 09/10/2007 12:24

I know a few people that intend doing this for nest year, one is a child minder that doesnt want to lose one of her mindees so is registering the child at her mothers address.

boomie · 09/10/2007 12:26

It must be so frustrating for you - some children did get refused a place at school and all I could think about were the children who had got in under false addresses. As far as I know the school didn't make any checks which seems a bit pointless having it as a criteria in the first place??

Blu · 09/10/2007 12:29

In your position, I would probably shop them - and get your local Cllr on your side, too. Go to the 'surgery' that your local Cllr will hold on a regular basis. I say this because i know that in the very tight and competitive catchment of a school near us the local councillor is so outraged by peope living in the council flats at the end of the road being displaced by generations of siblings of children who got in because their parents could afford to rent a temporary flat in addition to the house that they all promptly moved to as soon as child one was in the school, that she has been strongly supporting parents who appeal, and presurising the Education Dept and schools to do detailed checks.

janinlondon · 09/10/2007 12:31

I would ring the school and ask them if the situation is something they would look into. Lots of principals make unannounced visits to addresses where they suspect the applicants are not actually living.

janinlondon · 09/10/2007 12:32

Second what Blu says - I believe we were "done" by exactly this scenario at the school we wanted for DD.

edam · 09/10/2007 12:33

Agree with Blu, shop them! Or, if you don't want to target one particular family, tell your councillor and the school that you are aware some prospective parents are cheating and suggest they check addresses.

Marina · 09/10/2007 12:33

Good advice from Freckle and Blu. I would certainly approach the school and your local councillor, and good luck.

sKerryMum · 09/10/2007 12:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hanaflower · 09/10/2007 12:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LazyLinePUMPKINJane · 09/10/2007 12:38

Bear in mind that your child is not in the catchment either!

CarGirl · 09/10/2007 12:38

Personally I believe that schools who rank siblings above nearest (which I do agree with) should have a "moving house" rule too. If you move more than x miles from the school then the sibling rule no longer applies, this would stop people cheating the system in the first place!

CarGirl · 09/10/2007 12:40

It's all about money though isn't it, again those with the most money get the best education. I do think schools should be for local children it cuts down on road congestion, traffic accidents and pollution.

Kaz33 · 09/10/2007 12:41

Report them, if they actually had the decency to live at the address they are renting then fair enough. Otherwise, they are being seriously selfish.

aintnomountainhighenough · 09/10/2007 12:41

I wouldn't report them. I actually feel very sad that we now seem to live in a country where a lot of the time it is accepted that people 'cheat' to get things. I don't blame people for wanting the best for their children, the fact is that every school should be outstanding. also I don't think renting a place is cheating - if they are paying to rent a house then they are in the catchment end of story.

edam · 09/10/2007 12:42

"Everybody wants to do best by their children."

Yes, and so does the OP. Who has more of a case than the cheats to get her dd into what is actually her local school.

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 09/10/2007 12:43

I would report them. They are denying a genuine child a place at the school.

edam · 09/10/2007 12:44

Not if they aren't actually living there, aintnomountain. If they are merely renting to provide a (false) address to get into the school, they are cheating, and the OP has every right to expose them.

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 09/10/2007 12:45

"f they are paying to rent a house then they are in the catchment end of story"

No, they're not in catchment because they are not living in the property and have rented it solely to gain a place at the school, with no intention if living in it.

They will most likely be found out and their child removed from the school with nowhere decent to go, it's happened at a MNers school this term.

soopermum1 · 09/10/2007 12:45

'Everybody wants to do best by their children. Would you not do the same if you were able?'

But, by shopping them, and increasing your child's chances of getting a place by fair means, you're also acting to get the best for your child

I'd shop them

kiskidee · 09/10/2007 12:46

everyone wants to do the best for their child/ren but they need to balance it against the rights of other childrend too.

lying and cheating afaik is not considered honourable ways of getting your child into a better school.

Other children, inside and o/s the catchment may have lost out because of your dishonesty.

If a parent is willing to lie and cheat, I also reserve the right to shop em.

ruty · 09/10/2007 12:58

we bought our flat [about 150 metres from the school] to get into the catchment area. We could never afford to buy a house in the catchment area, or rent one. Few months later, the school changed the catchment area, moving us out and including a swanky new private development much further away. Houses in that new development go for about 700 -800 grand. I am incensed that after trying so hard to get into a good state school we won't get in because of people who are seriously rich and could afford private school anyway. I know this doesn't really add to the thread topic but the injustice of the whole system really should be addressed.

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