School admission - reporting parents

[doubletrouble9]

Hi
Anyone know how you would go about prompting the council to do an investigation into addresses on admission forms?
Some people say they had to produce evidence because a parent was suspected, the admission lady was very cagey about it as clearly they didn't want the hassle of an investigation.
thanks in advance

[curiousgeorgie]

Double trouble, just because they drive doesn't mean they live further away. Maybe they're lazy, maybe the weather is bad.

I'm 400m from my DD's school, and if I need to go somewhere straight after dropping her off, I drive

[TheOneWithTheHair]

I still don't understand how you know. Admissions wouldn't tell you if you have a place before the allotted day or everyone would be ringing.

[meditrina]

OP: can you confirm which country you live in? And whether you are talking about 2013 or 2014 admissions.

[doubletrouble9]

your're presuming im in England
anyway thanks for all the advice - special measures it is then -

[Viviennemary]

I think there should be hefty fines for liars saying they live where they don't. And a reward for people who report them. These cheats are stealing another child's place.

[TheOneWithTheHair]

Ok. Sorry op I did presume.

Then yes, special measures. You can help your dc with lots of help at home while you wait for a place to come up. I wish you all the best.

[Blu]

If you have reason to suspect that a particular person has lied then report them.

Really sorry you haven't got in, maybe there were a lot of siblings this year? Maybe people driving in from further have older siblings who got in in previous years when the catchment was wider.

But I'm not really sure what you are trying to plan. Reporting a whole year group one by one in the hope of finding a cheater?

In our LA you have to show a council tax bill and utility bill for the address in your name. Everyone does.

[doubletrouble9]

and thank you and goodnight viviennemary because apparently im the 'nasty bitch' for even daring to think that perhaps someone has lied but I should just sit back and take my child to a different school other than the one he may be entitled to because nobody likes a snitch.

[Longtalljosie]

If you're first on the list you're in with a good chance. People planning on going private tend to apply just in case, people get jobs elsewhere and move etc. How big is the intake?

[teaandthorazine]

But you don't know that anyone has lied.



You can't start accusing people just because they drive to school!

[doubletrouble9]

no its not one by one - just one person -maybe I haven't made myself clear - out of a group, I have reason to believe one person is lying but I don't know which one

[doubletrouble9]

ie someone said to me that someone else lives further away than you so I cant see why you didn't get in - I said who - they say well you see the cars - one of those
never mind - my fault not being clear

[CinnabarRed]

For what it's worth, where I live every single household is required to produce a utility bill to demonstrate that the person applying for the school place genuinely lives there. We had to produce one even though we had already told them (verbally, by email and in a letter ) that we would not be taking up the state school place offered to DS1.

[PenguinsEatSpinach]

Hang on, where do you live OP? Clearly not England as offers haven't been made yet. Scotland?

[Blu]

Well, maybe you can do some detective work, but unless you tell us more (which I can see could be difficult and out you), I don't know what you can do.

If someone has cheated and you are the victim, then do report them. Maybe you need to get a door to door job and visit all the houses and see who lives where!

[PatriciaHolm]

But you still don't know someone lied.

They could have medical or social reasons for getting the place, have an older sibling, or drive for any number of other reasons. You are listening to playground gossip and have zero evidence.

This is a hiding to nothing I'm afraid.

[Thewildsofnarnia]

Sorry- I also assumed England.

it is understandable that you are upset that you didn't get your preferred school-everyone wants that. But, obviously you can't just make these claims about random people.
if your friend has specific information about one of the 'cars' then try to get her to report or give you enough details to report otherwise fingers crossed that someone doesn't take the place.
it does happen-for reasons mentioned above,

[jennyl131]

If I knew or suspected a particular family had lied I would alert the appropriate authority. The fact that you think someone (anyone) has probably lied, well, you may right but that's not much use. Basically what you're saying is that the schools/local authority's checking procedures aren't up to the standards you'd like.

I'm very lucky that my dcs school takes address verification very seriously and investigates to ensure eg grandparents or other non resident addresses aren't used, this is the only reason dd got her place.

Perhaps instead of making random accusations, you should challenge the school to demonstrate that it's admission policies and procedures are being adhered to?

[Lottiedoubtie]

Maybe the child that lives further away from school than you has SEN or is a looked free child?

Maybe the person you spoke to was just shit stirring or mistaken.

[BambooBear13]

I find it all hard to believe as in my LA they check 3 firms of address. If anyone is reported ( happens every year at our school) they investigate. The total catchment is less than 0.3m for huge intake. I have some sympathy however if there is evidence to support suspicions - cars are no indicator. We walk most days but take the car if I have to be at work really early etc. you could ask for a full breakdown of the admissions offers, but not sure how you it would help?

[hippo123]

It's all very well being all high and mighty with the op but in all honesty most of us would feel the same. Op I would be doing a bit more investigating as to who lives further away than you and doesn't have special needs, is in care or have a sibling at the school. Then take it from there. If your at the top of the waiting list, hopefully someone will move soon and you will get a place though.

[BambooBear13]

I thought that too Hippo - hard to say unless you are in those shoes. I live in an area that has frequent cheats or people renting flats to get in schools etc - very frustrating for people

[OneStepCloser]

I sort of get what the OP mean as well. It can seem very unfair and the probability is that possibly one parent has lied to get a place. However I'm not sure I would do anything unless I knew for sure, and if your first on the list you should get a place fairly quickly. Good luck.

[TheGirlFromIpanema]

Has anyone mentioned siblings might live further away?

DD is in high school and DS will start Yr7 this year; but since DD started 3 yrs ago the criteria (area) they accept applications from has changed.

So people may wrongly assume that DS isn't entitled to a place and I must have lied if all they knew was my address iyswim? Their surnames are different too so it wouldn't be clear he has an older sibling already there.

Just a thought... But OP, I agree that you need to find out where this person lives and more details if you want to report them. Otherwise you will appear unhinged and they may not bother themselves to investigate any real fiddling of addresses.

I think you've had a hard time, I bet others would be miffed in the same circs