School cheats

[frillysockmum]

I was wondering how many over subscribed schools do extra checks after allocations day. We got 1st choice as did about 75% of dds friends but we have several friends who narrowly missed out on distance and I am so sad for them. At the same time 2 people (not effected by it) have told me that they know some one who has cheated this year ie used some one else's address. It makes me so angry - how do we get the school to make extra checks?!?!

If you inform the local authority of actual people they should investigate. You can't just ask them to check everybody.

I know but it's so unfair. It's like people are happy to tell me they know some one who has cheated (no details) as we have a school place - as if it really doesn't bother me... But I am gutted / angry for other friends. If I could get names I would report it , but I don't have any details so it's so frustrating !!!

I agree. It's quite easy to cheat that's the problem. The system relies on people reporting others.

When my oldest one started school one of the mums got their child in. We all knew she lived miles away. It turned out she had used the dad's address even though the child never stayed there. Someone reported them and the place was revoked. People become very annoyed when people they know have missed out on places.

Yes it has been a well known problem in our area for at least the last 5 years as I know people who have been effected and yet it seems to have gone on again this year... And I think there are more than the two people have told me about as I can think of a third who got in but live miles away. All I can do is tell those who lost out on a place and encourage them to kick up a stink!

What will you tell those others?

If you have been told the names, report it - more convincing from you than via someone who's heard it from you.

A council will only investigate a family if it there is suspected wrongdoing. Telling people who've missed out that you suspect wrongdoing but cannot supply details isn't going to help them.

And do remember that groups such as SEN, former LAC and exceptional need may come higher up the criteria than siblings and other children; and their needs be 'invisible' IYSWIM. So apparently anomalous distance may actually OK. Another reason why reporting yourself is better than onwards gossiping.

The third I was thinking about is not sen or lac or sibling, (I know) but may have used a 'borrowed' address. I do know several lac who got in rightfully. I don't have names for the others I have been told about, but yes I will try and get them - but those who told me may not wish to say who it is that they know. Friends on the wait list are in regular contact with the lea and school office / efs leader so I just think maybe they would have more opportunity to challenge it and ask for checks on actually where people live.

I got quizzed loads of times about why my DD got into her secondary school when people who lived closer did not. She won a place at appeal for reasons which may not be obvious and which I didn't want to discuss with everyone.

Just saying people have not necessarily lied, but if they have, they should be called on it.

..and the way to "call them onit" is to report them. Then, if in fact they have NOT cheated, the council investigation will clear them.

The primary my mother used to work at did a home visit to all reception children just after places were allocated. They always caught a couple of falsified addresses.

That would be brilliant but a burden for teachers?

Just to be clear home visits are not for the purpose of "catching people out" they are intended to help staff to get to know the child and for the child to meet staff to make starting school an easier process for the child.

OP, if it is one class intake you could tip them off and they could check one class, surely.
I know if there are 2 or more it would be considerably harder.
Also if you could find out the gender of the child it would narrow it down considerably.
I hate this too, it's so wrong when the honest ones are the ones to miss out.
I think I'd call anyway even though you have no details at least you've done something then.

type 2 is done by the LEA NOT by the school which is important to remember.

Establishing good relationships between home and school is important so the distinction needs to clear ... teachers are not there to spy.

It's a 90 intake - about 50% siblings and 50% move up from the school nursery - i guess people think no one will know as it's so big. It's not that big once you are there however as it has a tiny catchment distance so everyone knows everyone after a few weeks ...

This is true mrsz - it was an unintended side effect - but it goes to show that people do cheat and aren't that clever about it, and that even at a late stage places can be withdrawn.

To me it indicates the LEA should so more spot checks if a planned visit is finding anomalies.

I have decided that I am going to ask school what their policy is. I have also been told that they are aware that a couple of people get a place by cheating each year but that they rely on others reporting it - that's also unfair

Name changed, obviously.

I could be labeled a 'school cheat'. I felt forced to by the rigidity of the system, and being of NFA. Given we were in the second criteria by start day (only one down due to not being a 'looked after child'), I think what I did was the only way for me to engage with a rigid system, without DD ending up with no school place at all.

I think moaning about 'cheating' in the admission process is allowing ourselves to be kept busy in-fighting. It's 'divide and rule' by the government. Please direct your ire at something useful: campaigning to change our ridiculous lottery of school places. All schools should be good, and there should be a place at the nearest primary for each child, and this should be inclusive and flexible. 'Choice' is a load of bollocks. Blaming other parents for the bad system is refusing to see the big picture, and fruitless.

If you met the second criteria why would you need to cheat?

Parents have a right to express a preference this isn't the same as having a choice of school which seems to be the confusion.

by start day- not on application day.

I don't consider I cheated, really. Had we got no school place, I would have felt DD had been cheated by the system. I feel I worked within a rigid system as best I could. But, someone with self-righteousness looking around the other parents at who 'took my friend's child's place' could well judge me.

Schoolcheat

What did you do? The rules are there for a reason. My Dd is still waiting for our first choice secondary school. It is heartbreaking to see how upset she is. If I found out someone had lied about their address for instance I would report them in a heartbeat even if it didn't end up getting us a place.