How information do I need to report this?

[Ruby2202]

Found out from a friend that one of her friends has used a fake address to get into a very good school in our city which is local to us.

Apparently friend of my friend lives in a deprived area of our city and asked a mutual friend who lives in catchment for the good school in a totally different area of the city if she could move in with her temporarily with her dc so she can put her address down for the admissions to get into this school. She was intending on moving in with her temporarily and then renting locally to the school.

However, when it came to it said friend hasn't let her move in and she still lives the other side of the city to this school but has got a place. Apparently she is looking to rent near the school by September as the commute would be big if she stayed where she is and she's always wanted to live in the area where the school is. As do many people as it's a lovely area and the school is one of the top schools for results in the country.

This is all the info I know. I am wondering if I should report this person? However, I don't even know her name or dcs name. I can't believe these things aren't checked and she'd get away with it! Guess they wouldn't be able to do much without the info?

I am unsure if I should report or not anyway. She's a single mum and i know is just trying to do the best she can for her dc like everyone is. But she wants to move to and send her dc to one of the best schools in the best areas in our city! Doesn't everyone? She obviously can't afford it and there are other good/outstanding schools in the city in less expensive areas. Her expectations are very high.

I know the system is very unfair as only the more wealthy can often afford to move to these areas to get their dc into this school but at the same time she is denying a place to someone else who might have really saved and worked hard to live in that area too and has gone through the system honestly. It's a very oversubscribed school.

'Her expectations are very high' - oh, right. She should be happy with an average school

Do you even have kids?

Not great if it's true but I agree with others that you just need to leave it

I wouldn't. I would if she was a benefits cheat though.

The council can revoke the place even after the school year has started. They check the address given against records with other public authorities like HMRC and the NHS, and can revoke a place if they find that fraud has taken place.

The op's not taking any child's place away.

The only people at fault in school places fraud as the parents making fraudulent applications.

I'd even go so far as to argue it's better to have a fraudulent place withdrawn now then before the child starts school.

'She should be happy with an average school'

Just like the parent who, through the cheating action of another person, has to put up with that for their DC who would otherwise have been offered that place? For that child and that family are real too.

I have more sympathy for the family deprived of the place, than for the cheat.

Let the admissions authority sort out if there was cheating.

An overstressed system isn't helped by supporting cheats.

I would report too op

I know someone who was reported to admissions as they had used their grandparents address to apply to an oversubscribed school.

Someone reported them to the admissions. They only knew the child's first name and the school. Admissions wrote to the family and asked for proof of address. They didn't have any so his place was withdrawn. They then had to look for a place in another school.

EdithWeston:

It's the OP's motives I am questioning. I think she thinks this woman is uppity.

Every child should be at a good school reguardless of parental wealth

It's not an aspiration to expect a decent education

Not all good schools are the best school

SWYM Trifle

But as she can't name the suspect family, it can't really happen anyhow.

EdithWeston:

True! But in a way that freaks me out even more. Sherlock Holmes over there, probably camping out in front of the school with a notepad and camera.

If you have no information, then I'm not sure what you will report. They would at least need some information to go on. Phoning up with a vague 'I know somebody who got a place at school A may have lied' not much to go on really.

If you had the information and felt strongly enough, then report it. If you don't want the hassle then don't do it. The concepts of this child being more deserving or in need of a place than another child are irrelevant. The rules are there for a reason.

Also not everywhere checks up on addresses. Mine did for ds but not for dd.

"I could find out her name easily. I know which area she actually lives in."

Started to creep me out!

I know which school it is and could probably find out the child's name. If I did it now I wouldn't be disrupting anyone's education as the offer could be withdrawn before school starts.

I don't buy the argument this child is more entitled to the place than the other unknown child because the mum is single and they live in a less affluent area. The area they live in isn't that deprived either really. We don't know the circumstances of the child or family who have missed out on the place. Maybe they are a single parent? Maybe they have been offered a place at none of their preferences? Maybe their parents worked extremely hard and made many sacrifices to live in that school catchment and moved there just to get into that school?

I have nothing against how much money the women has or hasn't got. I don't deny her having aspirations for herself and child and I am not saying she could settle for an average school because she's less well off.

BUT my friend said her motivation is 'she's always wanted to live in that area' well so does everyone. We don't live in the exact area we want to live in and dc isn't going to the most excellent school. It doesn't mean it's ok to cheat the system. If she wants to live in that area and send her dc to that school she should work for it like everyone else not cheat for it.

Plus, as I ve said before. It's not like there aren't other options for her. She could move to less expensive areas and get her dc into excellent schools without lying and cheating to do it.

Also, the schools where she lives now are by no means dire either. It's simply because she's always wanted to live in the new area.

she should work for it like everybody else

How do you know everybody worked for it? Inheritance, lottery winnings, sheer luck?

Who is this 'everybody wants to live here - everybody wants to go to this school..... what nonsense

Catch onto yourself

Astro- well the fact it's hugely oversubscribed and house prices in the area are very high. Plus, the school gets some of the best results in the country would be a clue to its popularity. But yes, I expect not EVERYONE wants to live there but I expect many, many people do.

You are seriously over-involved in this woman's life. Here, have a grip. 📎

That's a paper clip.

She could afford the grip

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut:

Oh yes

Maybe I don't live in a sufficiently affluent area.

Haha! Love it. For the record I don't live in the expensive area the school is in.

Morally she is wrong, and I suppose morally, you could right that wrong.

But how would you feel displacing that child? Causing that child upset having been told they are going to one school and being the one to take that away?

Look at it this way, you are able to do something kind by letting that child go to a better school, having a better chance. Those with money can afford to move into the catchment areas of the good schools (those kids will always have a better chance and a better life experience). It pushes house prices up and excludes those who aren't as affluent. That in itself isn't fair.

I'd leave it, and have a clear conscience about it. You're basing your indignation on whispers which may or may not be true.