School admission address checking

[Bbqlady]

Looking for some advice on a tricky situation. Long story short it has just emerged that somebody I know has used my address to get their child in to a school within my catchment (outside of theirs) without even asking. It came to light recently by chance (they did not disclose the info).They have confirmed the place already. What I want to know is, do all boroughs cross check addresses or do some just accept your address is accurate on good faith? And at what point do they cross check? From what I can see you have to provide evidence at application stage but there’s no way that could’ve been done without my knowledge as surely they would’ve needed some documentation? I am hoping that cross checking is to come and at that point it will come to light but I am concerned it has already got to the point of confirming. I am not looking for advice to report them etc. I know I can do that. But if it resolves prior without my involvement that would be preferable. It’s a complicated situation with some other issues so I just want to know the likely outcome.

But in this case if the applicant has never lived at this address it is fraudulent. There are some boroughs which have criteria to restrict temporary moves for school places or use of second addresses.

This person is a CF. I would report it personally. I’m a little bitter that my dd was refused a place at the school half a mile away and only offered a bus pass to a school 8 miles away. Public transport and meant no extra curricular sports etc. I got her somewhere much closer but it was very stressful for dd and me.

This sort of thing really frustrates me. I understand that every parent wants their child to get in to the best school but rules are there for a reason. My

DS didn't originally get a place at our closest school, while another little boy in the next street along (further from the school) got a space because his parents used grandparents address. Thankfully DS was top of the waiting list and got a space in the end, but it was so annoying to know that the space would originally been his had the other family used their real address! It was a really stressful time for us.

Ours does home visits for all children before they start (& asks for council tax ref on the application).

I agree with previous posters. If the person never asked you it even mentioned it to you, I think you can ring the council and say there's been some mistake and you've received this letter in error.

I had to supply birth certificate (to prove I was the parent) and then 2 other forms of proof of address for me (passport and utility bill). This was after we were already offered a place so it must be different everywhere. (Also, although it is the better of 3 evils in the area it is by no means a desirable school)

So, somebody close to you - family or friend- chose to abuse that relationship and fraudulently use your address, without the knowledge of you or your husband and you are not going to say anything to them? I'd be furious that anyone did that and would challenge them about it, as well as telling the LA that they did not live at my address.
Why do you think they didn't ask you if you'd let them use your address? Obviously they knew you wouldn't agree to it. Have you told your husband about the letter?

Obtaining services by deception is a criminal offence.

I can't for the life of me imagine why you are being so passive about this? I would be furious.

I agree.

I'd report it. If the parents have done this without speaking to you then it's not Unreasonable to report. Especially as you don't know what else they might have used your address for

I’d just phone the number on the letter and say you opened the letter thinking it was for you and you think there is a mistake because nobody in your house is applying for school this year.

I'd be very worried about what else your "friend" has used your address for.
It's fraud.

I agree. I wonder what else she registered at your address in order to get the paperwork. Maybe take a look at Elector Register and Credit Scores

I work in. school admissions for a Local Authority.

Please report it, anonymously if you want, but please report it,

Return to Sender can take weeks, sometimes months to get through the system as they are not given priority by the post office.

It is very possible they will be found out regardless, the school may report back to the LA of a change in address. Some schools ask for proof of address, some rely on the LA checks.

It will be so much better for all involved if this is nipped in the bud now. There is the chance to get on the waiting lists now while there is still movement - not after school has started and the process has settled down.

Places are taken away from children, even after they have already started!

With regard to address checking in general - there are many different processes across the country.

We manually address check all applications, unless the first preference school is oversubscribed, or it is clear that they will be allocated under a higher criterion (medical, Looked after, etc).

We also re-check some of our most over subscribed schools after the offers have been made (the nice little middle class schools that people cheat to get in to) - the number of parents who split up in the winter and child moves into a smaller flat near the school, only to reconcile a few moths later and move back to the old family address is surprisingly high.

People use family addresses and change bank details to that address, even register with doctors from addresses they don't live at. We've had falsified documents, sob stories, lies etc

They do get found out, if we don't catch them other parents will tell us, or schools pick it up on home visits or talking to the child.

You will be making life easier for everyone to tell your local authority now.

With regard to address checking in general - there are many different processes across the country.

We manually address check all applications, unless the first preference school is oversubscribed, or it is clear that they will be allocated under a higher criterion (medical, Looked after, etc).

that was meant to say UNDERSUBSCRIBED!

Each LA will use a different method of checking, if you are unhappy then ring up, witholding your number and explain you think your address has been used, you are now in an invidious position and ask them what they normally do in this position. Then decide what you want to do.

Many years ago, something similar happened to my mother, when a friend's daughter used my mother's address in order to book a picturesque local church for her wedding. My mother was somewhat surprised when the vicar turned up, as she was the Catholic priest's housekeeper and knew him quite well. Embarrassment all round, the bride to be was then sent to do a round of apologies and chose another church...

You are obviously not comfortable with this situation, so, as my later mother would say, "Tell the truth and shame the devil."

I work in this area. In my LA the council don't check addresses at all. This is the job of the school. Parents take proof of address into school when confirming place.
Contact the school and they can tell the council. Do it now so another child can take the place.

@Bbqlady As you have probably gathered from responses on this thread, there is no universal policy. Some LAs do very little checking. Others do loads. However, the one thing that is common is that any checking will happen before offers are made. At this stage it is highly unlikely the LA will conduct any further checks unless something happens to alert them of the possibility that someone has used a false address.

My view is that you should contact the school and council (anonymously if you prefer) and inform them of the issue. You will be doing the parents and their child a favour. A place offered on the basis of a false address can be withdrawn after the child has started at the school. That would be a lot more disruptive and possibly more expensive than having the place withdrawn now.

If you want more detailed advice, feel free to PM me with any details you don't want to post publicly.

I would do this. I'd post on back with a note saying the address must be wrong

I too would wonder what else they have used address for & worry about future school admissions

Thanks all! All advice greatly received.