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.

If the Local Authority says they will use a rental address as long as you have rented your owned house out for Gods sake get that in writing. All London Boroughs can and will check against Council Tax records and use your owned property in preference to your rented one. See page 11 of the secondary guide here as an example www.barnet.gov.uk/citizen-home/schools-and-education/school-admissions/barnet-school-admissions-guides.html

So when you inevitably get the rejection letter you will have to go back to the borough to point out they have not used your rented address - at that point you will have to provide written proof that they said this would be used so you can demonstrate this error.

You may find that your concerns about him getting into a private school are unfounded. Our experience last year (West London) was that many (most) children are sitting for between 5-7 schools. One poor child of out acquaintance sat for 9! Obv competition is high for the super selective DS, but our very academically ordinary DC was offered one place immediately and waitlisted (and eventually offered a place at another). (DCs SATS were 110, 108, 105 so def not an academic superstar!)
We too worked out that private would cost about as much as stamp duty and we lived our house. DC is thriving in a sporty school and improving their grades.

MissEliza, not that I need to justify starting a thread (far more ridiculous/pointless threads on MN than this one) but you'll see that I changed my mind half way through in response to views of other posters. I wasn't sure if this was high risk and, on the basis of comments received, have decided it is and that we won't do it. I was THINKING it might be an option and I wanted to rule it in or out as it keeps coming back to me.

Windowing, that's incredibly helpful, thanks. Maybe I am being overly pessimistic. DS is definitely bright.

@worriedandstressedAAA last time I looked Mill Hill had worse GCSEs than APS and Fortismere. For a selective private school that will play all the obvious games of IGCSS vs GCSE that's fairly shocking. It really is a back up school. It's the back up school if all goes wrong at 7+/11+. Honestly I'd be shocked if your DS didn't get in.

Everyone scare mongering about Haringey places really is doing just that. If you rent in cartchment you are just as entitled to a place as anyone else. The governor of one of the outstanding primaries conveniently renovated her house just in time for primary place allocation and used her rental address no problem. Two doors down their live-out housekeeper used their address despite them renting an apartment in another borough as her actual residency. I'm not promoting what the house keeper did but it's ludicrous to say of course you'd be called out when what you are proposing is perfectly legit. Haringey isn't like some of the central boroughs. APSs catchment goes into Bounds Green. It's not small by London standards.

CindyLou, hi, the catchment doesn't got up to BG anymore. The only 2 people I know who rented had people around to their old addresses and spoke to the neighbours etc. They immediately moved into the area because of this, they both moved into the catchment afraid of being caught out. Im sure it does renting does happen but the chances of getting found out are really high now. Seriously they went to my friends old neighbours to speak to them to ask them why them moved, this is Harringey!

I'd agree with previous posters that I think you're being unduly pessimistic about his chances of getting into a private school. Maybe not Highgate or City, but if he's genuinely above average and has relevant tutoring then one of the ones mentioned should be fine.

My friend who lives near you is happy with HW. I'm really surprised you describe it as a rough with poor results as its stats suggest otherwise - it's good, has far fewer FSM pupils than my local schools, reasonable prior attainment, results etc. She is frustrated by how it gets sidelined by the posher families from their primary with people moving/getting music places/etc to F etc. I've only heard complaints about F and other than that it will have a different cohort, I'm not sure it's worth moving for. AP does sound better but again, worth moving with the risks and ethics involved? Not sure.

I wouldn't be happy with HW either. I do think you're right to look for a private school for a middling kid who may be over looked. It sounds like Highgate is out as is UCS/City but I do think you'll get Mill Hill. If it all goes tits up why not secure a place at Keble prep which goes to 13+ ? Your DS can be a big fish in a little pond and get some good quality teaching in small classes and then try again at 13+. By then you might be willing for him to travel further or move or he will have come on enough academically. You could always sit on the waitlist for APS in the meantime and if you get lucky make the decision then.

If HW means what I think it means, I don't understand why you wouldn't want your child to go there........

Highgate wood has good exam results and a good reputation. I'm also not so sure what's so wrong with it.

Why avoid H Wood? That isn't really the school you're trying to avoid is it OP? A friends DC goes there, well rounded kid, doing well. Much better than the friend who was whisked out of London to a grammar school area.

I'd avoid F, but there are plenty who still go for it over other perfectly good schools.

This is the moment in a thread where I realise the school's "really poor exam results" are better than those at the school my DC go to.

And wonder at how high some people's expectations are ...

red I feel the same.

I would take Highgate wood in a heartbeat over my catchment school. Forget about its (much) worse exam results, it's the fighting outside the school gate and knife carrying amongst children in the school that worries me.

Could any good possibly come from the OP answering the question why she doesn't want HW? It will lead to a whole slew of offended posters at best and nasty posts at worst. I can't see why on Earth the OP would answer that one. We all have preferences for one school over another for a million different reasons.

My NDN is doing this. I’ll let you know how they get on.

We rent a house out and we have had several families do this, I think it's perfectly legal as is moving on when you wish to while keeping your dc in the school. Ours is a primary school so don't know rules for secondary.

But the OP said what her reasons were-she said that it's really rough and has poor exam results!

And if she said a bit more maybe she would be reassured and stopp fretting about house moves and finding private and all her other concerns