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Original poster

School cheats

124 replies

frillysockmum · 04/05/2014 20:16

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?!?!

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frillysockmum · 06/05/2014 22:38

Yes

OP posts:
meditrina · 06/05/2014 22:40

NFA families should be considered under FAP.

It sounds as if the person you spoke to was wrong (or you misunderstood them). But there is a system in place, and it should have been made clear to you.

tiggytape · 06/05/2014 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MumTryingHerBest · 06/05/2014 22:47

would all of you self-righteous on here still say I 'cheated'?

Yes, the information you gave was false.

So, no one is a victim, no one didn't get their place that should of, DD deserves her place..

I assume that you are saying that every child under criteria 3 and all those who submitted late applications and were subsequently placed in criteria 3 also got places at the school? In which case, I agree, another child did not loose out due to you cheating.

schoolcheat · 06/05/2014 22:53

I chose the one that all my post went to. It happened to put DD in criteria 2 for a school. TBH, I wasn't too bothered which school, just wanted a form in for a school.

But, I don't wish to justify what I did to you lot. I just think the attitude that you deserve a easier access to the school you want because you have money stinks.

And the person I spoke to at the LA gave me different information to that which people on here appear to believe, and I know he was someone from the LA, and therefore qualified, and you're just people on the internet. People with a particular agenda that anyone who hasn't bought their way into a good school must have cheated, and there couldn't be any other reason behind them appearing to be slightly unusual admissions. And instead of complaining 'isn't it terrible, there are not enough local school places in good schools', start playing detective, and accusing other, unknown parents.

schoolcheat · 06/05/2014 22:53

Most children were admitted under criteria 5 or 6, having read it, and knowing the children. So no one lost out.

Zingy123 · 06/05/2014 22:58

It's nothing to do with having money or not. It's about being truthful about where you live on the day you apply. You have no way of knowing if you deprived another child of their place. Would you have been ok with your child being chucked out of the school after they had started if you were found out?

Zingy123 · 06/05/2014 22:59

It's nothing to do with having money or not. It's about being truthful about where you live on the day you apply. You have no way of knowing if you deprived another child of their place. Would you have been ok with your child being chucked out of the school after they had started if you were found out?

Zingy123 · 06/05/2014 23:00

It's nothing to do with having money or not. It's about being truthful about where you live on the day you apply. You have no way of knowing if you deprived another child of their place. Would you have been ok with your child being chucked out of the school after they had started if you were found out?

Zingy123 · 06/05/2014 23:00

It's nothing to do with having money or not. It's about being truthful about where you live on the day you apply. You have no way of knowing if you deprived another child of their place. Would you have been ok with your child being chucked out of the school after they had started if you were found out?

Zingy123 · 06/05/2014 23:01

Sorry message wouldn't post at first

teacherwith2kids · 06/05/2014 23:01

"People with a particular agenda that anyone who hasn't bought their way into a good school must have cheated"

Tbh, most cheats round here attempt to cheat by buying their way into 'the best' schools - usually by buying / rebnting short term in catchment then moving back to larger nicer house elsewhere.

So it was mainly the cheats who 'bouight their way into good schools' - and the tightening up of the rukles has made it easier for people living in cheper houses on the edge of the catchment area to get places - places they were denied by short-term rental cheaters with large houses elsewhere.

The number of cheaters has only been reduced by a crack down on ALL frauduylent applications - and although it is somewhat indiscriminate, the poeple caught out have not been 'those in very difficult and unusual circumstances' in the main, they have (as a crude generalisation) been rich people with the money to game the system.

teacherwith2kids · 06/05/2014 23:02

Excuse dodgy keyboard.

tiggytape · 06/05/2014 23:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MumTryingHerBest · 06/05/2014 23:09

People with a particular agenda that anyone who hasn't bought their way into a good school must have cheated

Actually, I believe quite the opposite. Many people who are cheating their way into the schools in my local areas are doing so with money. To rent a flat for 12 months in order to get a distance place or gain a distance advantage will cost £15,000 (£1,250 per month). However, if saves them money in the long run as they don't have to pay to go private.

teacherwith2kids · 06/05/2014 23:09

Tiggy, I think it is probably trickier when somneone has no fixed address but is not of GRT origin IYSWIM? To need the same priority as a named group but not to be part of it...

prh47bridge · 06/05/2014 23:14

There are rules and you broke them.

Your belief that the person you spoke to from the LA was qualified is touching but incorrect. Many people who work in admissions seem to have a very sketchy grasp of the system. This seems to apply particularly to those who answer the phones. I have come across far too many cases where LAs have given incorrect advice to applicants. Thankfully appeal panels and the LGO usually agree with my interpretation of the rules (and that of the other admission experts on here). Both appeal panels and the LGO rank above LAs. If the LA had stuck to their line that you can't apply without an address a quick reference to the LGO would have resulted in their views being amended.

You say you have not cheated anyone out of a place. You almost certainly have. Unless either the school is not full or your child would have got a place at this school had you been honest you have cheated someone out of a place. To be precise, you have probably cheated the person at the head of the waiting list.

If you had been honest you would not have been left without a place. The LA is obliged to find a place for you. There was no need to cheat. You will now have several months of worry. If anyone realises you have cheated the system and reports you to the LA the place could be taken away even after your child has started at this school.

meditrina · 06/05/2014 23:14

Any homeless child is eligible under FAP, as are various other vulnerable groups.

It's usually aimed at admissions outside the standard rounds, but if prevented from participating in that round because of lack of address, then
It can be activated straightaway to prevent disadvantage.

tiggytape · 06/05/2014 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MumTryingHerBest · 06/05/2014 23:18

schoolcheat from everything you have written so far, it would appear that you made just one phone call. Did you not at least try to establish whether there was any other way to get a school place other than cheat?

MumTryingHerBest · 06/05/2014 23:22

schoolcheat from everything you have written so far, it would appear that you made just one phone call. Did you not at least try to establish whether there was any other way to get a school place other than cheat?

Also, whilst I appreciate that you have obviously gone through a major upheaval in your life, perhaps the following will give you something a little more reassuring given your circumstances:
www.theguardian.com/education/2014/may/01/grammar-schools-priority-disadvantaged-pupils-entrance-exams

SueDNim · 06/05/2014 23:38

How is schoolcheat or any other parent meant to know that the answer given on the phone is incorrect and they are just speaking to a poorly trained help desk worker rather than someone with adequate knowledge? If you are living a cosy settled life, you might have the time to make a few calls, ask MN experts etc., but if you don't have a permanent address then there is probably other stuff going on that takes your focus.

MumTryingHerBest · 06/05/2014 23:56

SueDNim, I fully agree. However, I don't think I would then try to persuade people that it was OK for me to cheat. Particularly when there are so many posts regarding people going to appeal and others who are loosing out to people who have lied and cheated the system.

MumTryingHerBest · 07/05/2014 00:02

SueDNim If you say it’s OK for one person to cheat, where do you then draw the line. I am sure that many of those who cheat can present quite a compelling argument as to why they felt it was necessary.

hotcrosshunny · 07/05/2014 06:24

MPs who played the expenses rules to get thousands to fund mortgages and prune their wisteria David cameron blamed "the system".

Patents blaming the system for cheating is equally as lame. Yes we could lobby etc or we could take the school we're given and push to improve it by getting engaged e.g. via governor etc etc. You don't even have to become one yourself just become a pushy parent. The best schools IMO have parents who are engaged - which follows through into their children's education.