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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Having your home address investigated after school admission

16 replies

JOJOHNSON23 · 13/12/2011 14:46

Just wondering if anyone on here has ever had a home investigation after submitting a school admission form?

I moved last week so need to submit an application for my child to go to primary school but as it's a move so close to the admission date we are, apparently, likely to be investigated.

Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and if so when and what happened?

Many thanks in advance!! :)

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Hassledge · 13/12/2011 14:48

I saw a TV programme about this once - I think based in London - and the investigators seemed to go for the 8 a.m. call approach. Their thinking was that if you genuinely lived at the address you'd given, you'd be likely to be there at 8am. I think it's probably no more than a knock at the door for them to have some sort of confirmation that you properly live at that address.

Kendodd · 13/12/2011 14:50

We were due to move after the cut off date for applications to primary school, but before the start of term. We just got an email after our moving date asking us to confirm that the move had happened.

Jux · 13/12/2011 15:23

We moved into our house on 20th Dec. I had rung the County Council asking for a primary school for dd and was assigned the one round the corner from our new house. We had no inspection, or even threat of it. She started at the school when term started after Xmas.

No one ever checked our new address as far as I can remember. Mind you, there were only 2 primaries in the area and neither were particularly good, so perhaps they were just grateful that people were prepared to send their children there at all!

Original poster

JOJOHNSON23 · 13/12/2011 17:09

Thanks, I was under the impression that investigation was a common occurrence but perhaps it isn't. Thanks! Anyone else have experience of this?

OP posts:

sunnyday123 · 13/12/2011 20:39

in my council (lancashire) they ask you to provide proof in terms of new house contract or rent book. They also cross check you have updated doctor etc if in a new area altogether

prh47bridge · 14/12/2011 00:07

Many LAs will investigate people who move close to the deadline, often without the people being investigated knowing anything about it, especially in areas where there is a history of people giving false addresses to get into popular schools. As you have genuinely moved you have nothing to fear.

Dunrovin · 14/12/2011 00:11

Surely you would only be investigated if the school you have applied to is over-subscribed?
Anyway, since you do live there legitimately whatever happens will be OK.

Original poster

JOJOHNSON23 · 14/12/2011 16:14

It's more of the hassle factor I was concerned about. I'm not very good at getting bills, banks and driving licences updated and wondered how many i's I had to dot and t's I had to cross! Thanks all.

OP posts:

Dunrovin · 14/12/2011 19:02

You will need proof of addess anyway, whether or not you are 'investigated'. We had to show a council tax bill and a utility bill, neither more than 6m old.

Original poster

JOJOHNSON23 · 14/12/2011 19:06

Yes, that's easy enough, I'll have all of that. I really thought it was more commonplace but apparently not as nobody on here seems to have experienced it first hand. Quite a relief!

OP posts:

AlexandraMary · 14/12/2011 20:09

I have spoken to County Council (re school place) and Borough Council (re council tax) about this. BC employee told me that CC never check with them and they have no access to the records themselves - we just have to declare our council tax account number at the time of application.

Kewcumber · 14/12/2011 20:12

we weren't "investigated" but the school always does a home visit so pretty difficult to lie about it unless you're going to host the teacher to a garden party in the front garden of some strangers house..

PointyLittleDonkeyEars · 14/12/2011 20:48

Anyone coming to our house at 8am on a weekday would find no-one home - DH and I go out for work way, way before then, the DCs are in breakfast club. I'd be very about a council making assumptions based on that.

MrsJAlfredPrufrock · 15/12/2011 09:10

Herts, Surrey and Bucks investigate all applicants to Outstanding schools who have recently moved. Suspect the applicants would only be aware of it if there was a problem.

MrsJAlfredPrufrock · 15/12/2011 09:23

If you actually live in your house, the CC would have a tough time proving you don't, so you don't need to worry about it.

It's morally bankrupt to pretend to live somewhere in order to get a place at a good school. You are depriving someone who genuinely lives close to the school of a place.

noramum · 15/12/2011 17:26

We moved in August (application time was January) and had to provide copies of the solicitor's closing letter, that the sale was completed and all monies paid.

They never came to check. And we live in a very sought after area.

The 8am call-idea would have been useless, either we would have already on our way to work or I would be out bringing DD to nursery which started at 8am. Do they think people are working 5 minutes away from home?

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