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.

Aside from the moralities, are you not leaving this all a bit late OP? Most DC trying for selective schools will have been tutored since (at least) the start of Y5. If you follow your moving plan, you have to find a suitable house to rent, make your house satisfy letting standards, find tenants for your house, and swap over all your paperwork so you have a paper trail that will satisfy anyone checking. All in just over 5 months ...

I also second those who say you need to go and take a proper look at your local school, particularly through the eyes of "how will my child fit in here"? If this is the "local" comprehensive I'm also guessing that the knife wielding, crime committing element is not solely restricted to school grounds - so your DS will encounter this outside of school anyway.

Well, if we don't move, I certainly don't intend to report any of the other families I know who are doing this. Bit pathetic if you ask me unless of course you spend your time policing other "illegalities"

If you try thinking about this from the perspective of a family living at the edge of the desired school catchment area, who end up with their child being the first or second child refused a place at the desired school - so losing out directly because someone else has tried to play the system by temporarily moving close to desired school - then reporting really doesn’t seem so pathetic.

This isn’t victimless. There are real children living at the edge of catchment areas who lose out on places at their local schools when this sort of thing goes on.

I’d report people who were commiting fraud without hesitation however the OP wouldn’t be commiting fraud so there would be no point reporting her! She has checked with her authority and they have confirmed that it’s ok. I don’t see what she is doing that is different from anyone else who moves for a school and I don’t see anything wrong with it.

What’s needed is that all schools should be made to be more equal. Selective and religious schools should be scrapped.

"Lots of dog fouling, muggings and moped/acid attacks in my area" what has that got to do with anything? You are really scraping the barrel to justify your immoral plans there op, I'm embarrassed for you.

We moved in the knick of time and had to prove disposal of our last property which we'd sold.

Er, we have been tutoring DS for at least a year. Who said otherwise? Late or otherwise we still have time. We didn't want to move before and certainly don't want to now.

I really don't agree with the moral arguments here. I checked and we are 1.8 miles away. A few years ago we would have been in catchment. Can I argue that we too have been pushed out by people moving into the area?

I'm a bit lost as to all the options I have that others don't. What are those options exactly?

Yes, exactly. Totally agree about religious schools being scrapped. Utterly shameful.

Why are you so sure your catchment school will be a disaster?

Of course you can move area to get your child into a good school. Most parents do. However, there is a difference between actually moving area and renting a random house for a local address. Would you actually move there or just rent the house and keep yours as primary residence? If you do that, that's illegal and you will be caught. If you actually intend on moving to the area then I don't see the issue.

Definitely worth visiting the local comprehensive school, it may be better than you imagine. Often a larger school has advantages of more choices, more equipment etc.
There's one near us has a poor catchment, very mixed intake, lots of pupils for whom English is a second language - and sadly this is often cited as a reason to avoid the school, it's never over subscribed - yet they do churn out some good results and plenty get to Oxbridge - as did friend's son.

Greenmeerkat, we would move there properly, of course, and rent out our house and may even move permanently.

Ariela, I have visited it several times. I don't see it changing a huge amount in the next year or so and certainly not before October when we need to apply. This school actually is oversubscribed and we were outside catchment on offer day last year although I think would get in once offers are accepted. The other option is way way too dire. I think the GCSE pass rate is in the early 30s!!

You still haven't said why you think your catchement school would be a disSterzz

Or even a disaster.

@MillicentF she did. She said the GCSE pass rate was 30%. I wouldn't fancy that School for my kids either.

Haven't RTFT, but a friend was telling me the other day that some areas are stating if you are renting a property but own another within commuting distance of the school, they will count your owned property as your residence, not rented property.

Whether this is just 1 area, how they check etc, I don't know, but that's what I was told..

@GreenMeerkat - Actually I read it that the 30% school was another school even further down the OP's list (i.e. fallen off the bottom) than the local comp.

Local comp is oversubscribed, that suggests it is doing something right... really poor schools tend not to be.

@RedSkyAtNight oh right, I thought when she said this School she meant the one she was trying to get into.

OP we did this - moved. We moved to an area about 30 miles away purely for schools - catchment school was dreadful.

We rented in catchment but sold our previous house and our intention was always to stay here in new catchment. We had twins so were taking 2 places out of 60 - although about 30 of those were siblings - so 2 out of 30. It was one of the top schools in the country and massively oversubscribed. I have no doubt whatsoever that we'd have been reported if anyone thought we weren't genuine.

You said in an earlier post that you don't think the school cares - it's not the school you need to worry about, it's the LEA and they definitely will care.

We were classed as 'moving into the area' as we'd not lived in catchment for the 12 months prior to applying. There is a reference to "permanent" address in our LEAs policy, so if there was any suggestion that your move was not permanent, they'd use your previous address. We had to provide a 12 month tenancy and proof of disposal of our previous house (We supplied sale contract). I think if you supplied a short term tenancy for your own (current) house, it's debatable whether that would be enough for a 'disposal' in the circumstances - given you're so close. We also had to supply a mountain of other documents (council tax / NHS medical cards etc etc) presumably to check the position. Don't be blase about how thorough they'll be.

thanks namechanged. Would you risk it, in our circumstances? I am a worrier and can imagine not being able to relax about it for the next 12-18 months.

I would only do it as a permanent move. You either commit to the new area and apply legitimately, or stay put and explore your options for local schools / waiting list possibilities.

Op, from your posts I have a reasonable idea of where you live.

Fudging an address is very common round here. It is evidenced by the primary schools with catchments of 0.3miles or under with loads of parents who drive every day.

People are understandably tight lipped about how they cheat the system, but I have heard of renting in the catchment (like you), using a family members address, and even using a friend's address.

The local authorities are aware of this, and if you still own a local property, it may be found out, as others have pointed out.

People are understandably tight lipped about how they cheat the system, but I have heard of renting in the catchment (like you), using a family members address, and even using a friend's address.

Renting in the area isn't cheating the system (as long as any other house is unavailable). The OPs LA have confirmed this. Using a friends or family members address is different and is 'cheating' the system.

I would phone and found out how long someone in your area had to wait for a place in the waiting list before you do all this. Alot of areas only publish admission distances based on the first round of offers on March 1st. That rarely resembles how far they go out by September. You are only 1.8miles away so it could be you are likely to get an offer from your current address by September or soon after.

Otherwise, what you suggest is an option. You are following the rules so it's not cheating as such. It's probably questionable morally but I know plenty of people faking religion or buying overpriced houses which exclude lots of people in a different way. I don't see it as any different.

there renting in the catchment temporarily, while having a permanent address elsewhere, is indeed not allowed.