woman who lied about her address to the education authorities might go to prison

[namebacon]

I did think this story would interest mumsnetters and perhaps spark a discussion.

here

can't really believe she'll go to prison though.

I doubt it, much more likely to be a fine.

Surprising, though, usually the place is just withdrawn. Maybe the council wants to send a message to parents, rather than bothering to try to improve local schools...

(She's clearly been caught bang to rights though, didn't realise moving back home would affect the application my arse!)

what a load of rubbish. I know loads fo people do this, and mnaybe if the goverment were able to provide good education for all, it would be an issue.
I think they might jail her though, as an example to others , like the mum they sent to jail as her teeenager wouldnt go to school.

I hope she gets a hefty fine, because quite frankly, I can't see the value of spending other people's taxes on keeping her in prison.

She had it coming really, didn't she?

I think all cheats should pay a hefty fine or have a punishment otherwise there's no deterrent. But I agree with the comments in the link that MPs are cheating in the same way and none of them have been threatened with imprisonment.

I agree with - Hugh, Leeds, 10/5/2009 01:38 in the comments section.

Ridiculous system that means that you have to lie in the first place.
NOT a reason to be sent to prison for. What good does that do?
I don't think it's even a good enough reason to be fined.

Currently waiting to appeal over son's secondary placement so I do feel very very angry about people lying to get a place - and those who rent an additional property in the catchement area etc
BUT I don't think this women deserves to go to prison FFS. Just take the place away and maybe a fine.

She doesnt deserve prison but she should be fined (and higher than £5k to act as a deterrent to others).

I dont for one moment believe she forgot to change the address or even that she did reside there for three weeks - just at the time applications for primary school were due

is it cos she is black?

i wonder how she thought she would get away with it, she didnt even bother to put her name on the council tax! fwiw i dont think she should go to prison but i do think she should be fined.

Nancy75 I wonder how she thought she'd get away with it too. Really, she didn't even pretend to be living there, never mind having her child benefit and council tax amended.

but how many school double check addresses? We have schools here that have forced children to move out of the school when they have moved during their time at school!

Did she not have to provide proof of living at that address.

When we applied for dd1 school we had to provde a copy of child benefit statement,copy of her birth certificate and a bill with our address on it.

I hope she gets a big fine, too. She can easily afford it, anyway.

Her-local-not-good-enough-school-must-avoid-it-and-lie-to-send-child-elsewhere-or-send-ch ild-to-private-school-instead: got all Grade 2s. Its inspection report reads miles better than most.

The comments on DM website are dreadful, aren't they? All along the lines of, "Anybody should be allowed to do anything to get their child the best education possible -- unless they're politicians of course, who should live on gruel and porridge", it seems!

Yeah, odd that no-one commenting on the DM site is on the side of the child who would have been cheated out of a place.

Serves her right, silly mare. 'didn't realise it would have a bearing on the school application" my ar$e!

Having said that, I think it should be a fine, not prison.