Renting in catchment

[worriedandstressedAAA]

Ok, so don't shoot me but I am at my wits end about what to do for year 7 for DS, 10. We need to apply this October. DS is middle ability, sporty and not motivated at all. Our choices are the local comprehensive which is really rough and has poor exam results year on year or to go private. We've been looking at privates and it's becoming clear to me that DS does not stand a chance of getting into any of the good private schools in North London where we live. We may have a chance at some of the other privates, e.g. North Bridge House, but have visited and wasn't overly impressed and am not convinced it's any better than a good (and free) state secondary. There are two outstanding state secondaries a 10 minute drive from where we live with miniscule catchments. I am seriously considering renting in the catchment area for 12-18 months to get DS a place. I've read the borough's admissions policy and it seems it's ok to do this provided that we stay at least 12 months and genuinely live in the property. None of us want to move but seems to be the only way to get DS into a decent school. Lots of other families in the area seem to be making the same move. It's a massive decision though and still not sure if we should do it or keep exploring the private sector. Can anyone advise what we should do.

20nil, I don't actually think the schools care at all. I went to the open day last year and several parents were extremely open about the fact they were moving into the area to get into the school. The school doesn't deal with admissions anyway, the LA does.

I am not decided on whether to move or not. I feel increasingly desperate to do something but am not sure what the right thing is here which is why I posted. I wanted to know what others do in the same position and people must have faced this. Do people go through the upheaval of moving, do they go private even if is means paying a fortune for something that is far from ideal or do they stay with the local option, knowing it is likely to be disastrous. What is the best decision in those circumstance? If you have a brilliant child who has good chances of getting into a grammar then it's a different discussion. But what about the middle ability kids?

Ok, you keep telling yourself that your decisions have no consequences for other people. Knock yourself out. As I’ve said, you’ve made up your mind so do it and live with the consequences. If I knew where you were, I would report you without hesitation.

If you live in any city, anywhere, you don't have to look to hard to find crime.

I'm really surprised that there's only one comp local to you in North London - have you looked at everything in your borough? Have you considered Central Foundation Boys School? They take pupils from outside their catchment- I know a couple of kids going in September who live quite a distance. You have six choices after all - it's a big risk to move, especially if the school you've chosen still doesn't offer you a place or your DS doesn't like it.

Could you not actually move, sell and buy, into the better catchment?

The system isn’t ‘unfair’. It is a fair system but doesn’t give all the people exactly what they want. Unfortunately your local comp will have become more and more ‘rough’ as more and more people have avoided it. Schools thrive for all on a mixed demography. My Dc have done extremely well in an outstanding comp where, yes, sometimes police were called, sometimes some pupils had knives and often the community police were outside, getting to know students, stopping anything escalating. ‘Rough’ schools can often have great teachers delivering a good education. Have you actually visited the school?

All said, I know there are schools I would refer my kids not to go to. So would genuinely move house.

The problem with renting is when you move back, place 2 more siblings in tne school even though you are now out of range, and meanwhile, every year, another ‘out of catchment’ family are moving j to the rental you just left, doing exactly the same thing. Bagsing their own future sibling places. And every time it happens they make places for the genuine locals harder to get.

Middle class engineering of the system. Just as unfair.

Really move. Contribute to your new local area, stop the exponential reduction of places for locals.

apples, I do really get your point, but this country's education system is totally broken. My friend, who is a single mum on benefit keep changing her address, by keep moving where she lives. Her ds is year older than mine. She stayed in my area, while he was in one of the good school. She managed to move last year, so her ds can be in catchment for better secondary. I really don't know how housing benefit works, but there are people who use them too. Op must know the down side of it, if it was found as fraud. But if it's not, nothing wrong in using that to get the best for your child. All the parents will do best in their ability to get what's best for your child. I wouldn't do it, but I wouldn't judge who does.

I guess if the admissions authority allows it then there's no problem. I am surprised though that they don't use your old address (as presumably you can evict the tenants early once you get a place?).

I won't flame you though op. I went to a hideous secondary school with gang problems and I would not allow DS to go to a similar school. I think some posters don't quite understand how awful some schools can be - although I'm south of the river - no knowledge of north London.

I understand your dilemma, though schools change - is it likely that your catchment school will improve in the near future?

I’d be wary of renting some place- our local authority are quite strict on investigating and want evidence for council tax, electoral register, closing and opening statements for utilities etc etc

There have been some reports of couples officially filing for separation, putting house on market and one renting a place in catchment. This is quite a risky strategy and would require quite a tall story to be maintained to all friends, and be wary of others reporting you if you go down this route! Many (quite rightly imo) feel it is very dishonest to do this to win your child a place at preferred school.

A very popular outstanding secondary has just changed its admission policy to give preference to children of staff, tho going down this route isn’t seen in the same light as the parent is “investing in the school” in terms of their time and energy. Could / would you take up a teaching assistant role for a year if this were an option?

How can you both move and stop the exponential reduction of places for locals

Tell us more about your catchment school. Why do you think it will be disastrous?

Kim, why are you keeping your new UN? I liked your old UN way better.
And as a person from that part of the world, your UN is not very pleasant.

The devil is in the detail though. Our local policy is literally a few lines about evidence of using new address and not returning to old address. When phoning to ask they told me that if the distance was commutable they would use oldest address.
I genuinely empathise and i guess we had the luxury of moving a distance so literally could buy a house in the right catchment. I just would hate for you to spend all that money to no benefit. Can you sell and buy?

I do know how difficult some schools can be, believe me. And I know how agonising theses situations can be for parents. But I’ve also seen the other side, where kids and their families miss out on places in their local schools because of people like the OP. That’s why I’m trying to do something about it rather than abusing my middle class privilege to benefit my children at the expense of others.

Kim, why are you keeping your new UN? I liked your old UN way better.
And as a person from that part of the world, your UN is not very pleasant.

Very fashionable this week, though, like cold noodles

Tammy, we haven't ruled out staying in the new area but wouldn't want to sell immediately anyway for a number of reasons including brexit, wanting to make sure DS gets a place, getting to know and like area first.

Have heard of Central Boys but checked catchment areas are we are way way outside (think we are 3.5 miles and further distance offered by 1.2 or something).

I agree though that there are risks including the ones Spartacunt indicates. Could not be the right school for him, he may not get a place etc, then what? I am also wondering if he would stand a chance on the waiting list. We are just over 2 miles away so maybe in a year or two he might get a place if people leave?

I have read the admissions policy for the relevant LA thoroughly. It just says that the former address has to be disposed of, i.e. can't be empty, or renovated etc. It doesn't say anything along the lines of it having to be not commutable. I wish it did in a way as it would clarify matters.

In Surrey they look at each reported case individually. But essentially if you own somewhere and rent somewhere else 2 miles up the road to get into the better school it's pretty obvious what you've done. Surrey would use your old address.

I get your point that people who rent are much more transient so can play the system more. But they also have a lot of uncertainty and I'm sure most of them would rather have the security of owning a property than being able to move to get school places.

Op I get you don't want a rough school but why not properly move to the right area and that would solve your issue.

This argument always boggles me. Imagine you live in the “good” catchment. Your child is given a place at the stabby school instead of the good one, because another family has played the system in this way. Do you say “fair enough” and go with it or are you up in arms about other families cheating?

I don't see it as middle class privilege at all. More like middle class handicap. The main issue seems to be that we own a house within a few miles of new school. Everyone has agreed that it's ok if you are renting to end tenancy and move but no if you own a house. Isn't it the same concept though, you are moving to get into a school? I know several lower income families who have done this, including two who moves to get their DCs into DS's primary school and have moved several other times to get their other DCs into their preferred schools. If anything, you are worse off as a middle class home owner. On the other hand, if you are super rich, you don't mind spending a shit load of money on a less than good private school, or you can hire a nanny to drive your kid to a private school outside of London which isn't otherwise commutable. I feel like we have the worst of both worlds and am wondering where is all went wrong. I worked full time since DS was 6 months old as I wanted to provide him with a good education and future but now seem unable to do that.

My children’s catchment secondary only started to improve when the middle class families stopped moving out of the area when their eldest reached the age of 10. Now it is hugely oversubscribed. The reason schools a few miles apart from one another vary so wildly is because of this sort of social engineering -those who can afford the higher rents and admin fees win out and those who can’t but legitimately live on the outer edges of catchment lose out.

Op your son will be ok whereever he goes, since he has sharp elbowed middle class parents whose ambitions for him outstrip his own abilities (by yr own admission). So it’s up to you whether you want to be part of the problem i guess [shrug]

Wnd no one pays more than their ‘fair share’ of tax, unless they are voluntarily donating over the odds to hmrc. That’s kind of how tax works. That sort of comment reveals a deeply unpleasant entitled attitude imo.

I think you do know what the right thing is to do here!! But you want people to say it’s ok. Well I suppose legally what you are doing may (although I still see they could investigate you and decide you’ve taken someone’s place by moving the school year before) be ok but morally NO, that will be most people’s feelings on this. There will be parents who have thought this all through years ago and moved into the correct area or moved away. We lived on the Caledonian Road in London, perhaps close to you, we moved outside of London when our eldest was 2 because I walked past schools there and knew I couldn’t send my kids there, we thought it through.
I honestly do think there must be another option and I do have some sympathy. I would suggest you either move to the area lock stock (not just rent for a year) or investigate more private schools. It’s rubbish I know but there must be some other option - what are all his friends doing? If they are going to the local school and they are good friends then surely this must be an option?

So what are the options here:

1. Stay and send DS to local comp. Apply to other state and private schools but accept he is unlikely to get in or, if he does, it's most likely to be not so good private school.

2. Sell house and buy in catchment before October. Stamp duty is likely to exceed private school fees for DS1 for 5 years which is fine but needs to be factored in.

Any other options?

‘Boo hoo i am hamstring by my ability to completely voluntarily buy a house in london’ will your ds be able to learn how to play a tiny violin in his new school?

Excuse the derail, OP.

"Kim, why are you keeping your new UN? I liked your old UN way better.
And as a person from that part of the world, your UN is not very pleasant."
I honestly didn't think it would offend anyone- happy to change it if it does. I just thought it was funny- and a bit of a poke in the eye to the Reddit anti feminists.