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Original poster

Wrong address on School Admission - please help!

136 replies

namestresses · 03/08/2011 10:29

Hi All,

I need your help - I am so stuck, I just don't know what to do.

When we applied for a primary school place, we lived at house X, close to our preferred school but out of catchment. Catchment is a not-so good school.

We moved house in April, just up the road to house Y, same catchment as the not so good school but slightly further from the preferred school.

We got the letter in May saying we hadn't got into the preferred school and we had got into the catchment one. Disappointing, but unsurprising since preferred school is oversubscribed. Went on waiting list for preferred school.

ANYWAY... (sorry for long story history!)

I got a letter yesterday saying that we had been offered a place in preferred school! I was SO SO SO happy I screamed.
Until DH pointed out that the letter was redirected from old house X.
The LEA didn't have our new address.
I informed the council but didn't realise the LEA was a separate 'entity' as it were.

I feel sick. I mean, I actually feel physically ill. I don't know what to do. Accept the place and change address with the school once we start, or tell the LEA we aren't at that address and lose the place we wanted?

We WERE at house X when we applied. I THOUGHT I had done the right thing by notifying the council. But now I am so worried that if I am honest and correct it now that I know my mistake, I will lose a place we so desperately wanted.
Can anyone offer advice? Please be kind - I was naive and I feel like an idiot already, I don't need to be flamed :(

OP posts:
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MumblingRagDoll · 03/08/2011 18:02

I think you're ok....I think that if you'd moved 5 miles away or someing then that would be different...but you're only up the road.

Vicky2011 · 03/08/2011 20:24

I wouldn't for a minute think of telling them, just keep the post re-direct on and then tell the school (not the council) when you get the personal details form at the start of term.

admission · 03/08/2011 21:02

Whilst there is a period where the old address would be used, between the cut off date and allocation date, once you go into a waiting list situation then the new address should be notified to the LA admission team.
To turn it round, if you moved much nearer to a school you would certainly want it to count, wouldn't you?
Namestresses I fully understand the decision you have made, I simply want you to be aware of the potential consequences if the Council take a hard line over the change of address.

prh47bridge · 03/08/2011 21:07

The consequences if they decide that you have lied about your address is that you can lose the place at this school even after your son starts at the school. The LEA is NOT a separate entity from the LA. However, that doesn't mean the LA's various departments all share information properly. The question may be whether the fault lies with the LA for not informing their Admissions team of your change of address or whether that was something you should have done.

Mumwithadragontattoo · 03/08/2011 21:29

I work for a public sector organisation which doesn't always communicate well between different areas. It is no a defence to say the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing. So if you tell one part of the organisation of a change of address the rest will be deemed to know. I would expect the same to apply to the LA. OP has not done anything that could be described as lying. She applied from correct address, informed LA of change of address, accepted offer of place that has been made to her after that change of address had been notified. All bona fide; if she hadn't noticed the offer letter had been redirected then that would have been the end of it.

Name - I suppose the only thing in favour of speaking to the LA again now is that since you haven't moved very far you might well be next on the waiting list anyway and at least you would have the position clarified and would be able to stop worrying. Don't feel bad whatever you decide to do.

CustardCake · 03/08/2011 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

teacherwith2kids · 04/08/2011 09:48

I have to say I'm with custardcake - several children each year are forced to leave our local secondary school (after the start of the Autumn term) because the school / LEA investigate suspicious address claims and remove the place from those who have been given places based on incorrect addresses.

It puts those children in a horrible position - they have started at a school, made friends, but cannot stay at that school and often have no place in any local school. The only way they can regain a place is by their family moving house legitimately and getting themselves back on the waiting list ... and as places are hugely in demand they don't come up often, what with other families moving into the area close to the school.

As porevious posters have said, as you have moved only a short distance, it is very possible that you would have been given this place anyway. Why risk having a place removed that could be yours in a quite above-board manner?

Original poster
namestresses · 04/08/2011 09:53

custard - yes you are right - I am not arguing with that.
I know it's a risk and it eats me up.

I am going to accept the place - but if they ask for all manner of proof, I will come clean. I think they conduct entry interviews (well, chats) prior to start of term and that's when you give them supplementary address information. Depending on what they ask for, (ie if it's a lot), I am not going to live a lie, I just can't - but if no-one asks, I am going to chance it.

It's not like I lied to be in catchment, it's not like I lived somewhere for 2 months to play the system - I lived there for 3 years and had to move a couple of months ago. I chose to stay very close so it didn't affect schools etc as i didn't want to screw anything around!
I can prove I lived there at the time of application, I can prove I changed my address with the council, just this once I think I will take a risk.

If he gets removed - home ed! He is desperate for me to do that anyway Grin

OP posts:
teacherwith2kids · 04/08/2011 10:10

The school I am referring to locally, btw, as I understand it routinely investigates every change in address between application and Christmas of the first year. They have been badly affected by people 'playing the system' and do their level best to ensure that children with the best claim to places under the admisssions criteria actually get them, rather than places being taken by children who do not have a right to them.

It is quite possible that the school you are applying to is not so rigorous - but if you are genuinely still close (rather than using a rhetorical device saying 'well, I didn't move miles across town') then I really don't understand why you are taking the risk.

Original poster
namestresses · 04/08/2011 10:19

we moved 0.2 miles further away - as the crow flies

I am so screwed up, I am just scared of being offered this little chance and saying 'oh, you know what, I'll like to go back to position 8'

I live in a highly urban area - there is a strong likelihood we would drop right back down.

I do understand the moralities etc - hence me being such a bloody mess :(

OP posts:
RunAwayHome · 04/08/2011 12:08

Is there no way you can find out how far away the next child on the waiting list is? It sounds like a huge risk to me - even if your son wants to be home educated now, he might not once he's started and settled and made friends, and having to leave then could be traumatic - especially if he doesn't really udnerstand why, and somehow blames himself :( (or other children do). Even if you accept but wait until they ask you for proof to come clean, won't you have already lost the place at the catchment school, and then have to go miles away? Surely it would be better to know one way or the other now, so that you can prepare for whichever school without this sort of worry hanging over you.

Mandy21 · 04/08/2011 12:16

For what its worth, I've checked my LEA's guidance book for school admissions and there is a requirement to inform the Admissions Team immediately if you move address after you have applied. They go on to say that a place may be withdrawn even after your child has started school if you fail to do this.

I know you want the very best for your child and I think you're in an impossible situation. I'd have to tell the school and take my chances on the list though.

Good luck

titchy · 04/08/2011 12:45

Can yuo not phone the LEA pretending to be a prospective parent moving into the area, and ask what the current admitable distance is, incoluding waiting list admissions, to your preferred school - at least then you'd know what wold happen if you told them your new address.

Original poster
namestresses · 04/08/2011 13:41

titchy that's a good idea.
I might do that tomorrow (they are closed today).

Good thinking batman!

DH wants to risk it. I actually don't, I can't sleep I am so screwed up... but there is something stopping me picking up the phone.

I really want to thank you all for your advice and opinions. Just having people to talk to has helped me. It's made me stop and think - hang on, am I doing the right thing?
I was really worried I'd be flamed and treated like a crook but I am really glad I posted. Some of you have been really realistic and pointed out the risks which is hard to hear, but I do really appreciate the time you have all given me.

OP posts:
Lonnie · 04/08/2011 17:02

alternatively phone up say you wish to accept the place but your address is wrong. then leave it to them to work out if you should have been offered it.

Mumwithadragontattoo · 04/08/2011 17:18

I think Titchy's suggestion is a good one. At least that way you'll know if you would get in anyway at your new address. Then at least you are not making your final decision blind.

LIZS · 04/08/2011 17:48

I'm with lonnie - call to accept the place , then ask to check that they rhave the correct correspondence address. tbh iiwy I couldn't be dealing with another 5 weeks of fretting.

Deux · 04/08/2011 18:10

I think you have to come clean and be honest with the LA. If not it will come back and bite you on the bum.

Just tell them what you've told us here and see what they say.

Is there any possiblity that the place has been offered on the basis of your new address? Our LA cross reference addresses on the Council Tax register. Would they have done that and the offer of a place at the new school has been sent to your old address in error?

If you are honest, and you do end up back on the waiting list, you will be pretty much near the top and a place may come available through the year.

Karma and all that.

Deux · 04/08/2011 18:12

Or you could ring up and be all upbeat and happy and say you are delighted to be offered the place and would love to accept but you don't understand why the letter was sent to your old address. And see what they say.

Original poster
namestresses · 05/08/2011 06:21

Thank you all

I'm going to call them today

I can't do this...waking up feeling sick like a criminal. The thought of his losing a place we wanted so badly fills me with tears but I can't lie for 5 months, looking over my shoulder worrying. I can't do it.

OP posts:
Original poster
namestresses · 05/08/2011 06:32

Now the thought of ringing them is making me feel sick

I wish I could just call and explain the situation and ask if it would make a difference without revealing my name so I knew what they would do!

OP posts:
bonkers20 · 05/08/2011 06:37

I'd be honest. If you were top of the waiting list at your old address, it is likely that you will still be at the top at your new address because it's just up the road. Are there any/many people with reception age children between your old and new house? And if you do lose the place, you can stay on the list and I'm pretty sure you'll get a place very, very soon.

I don't think I could rest unless I phoned the LEA.

PrincessJenga · 05/08/2011 07:03

Can I suggest you contact the advisory centre for education before you call the LA? They give independent telephone advice and might be able to help you make an informed decision.

Original poster
namestresses · 05/08/2011 08:26

princessjenga - thank you, I will do that today.

OP posts:
Mumwithadragontattoo · 05/08/2011 09:57

Good luck namestresses. I have my fingers crossed that your honesty pays off and your DS gets a place at the nice school anyway.