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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Don't judge me...moral dilemma

30 replies

sweetaddict · 23/10/2008 16:00

Am green about this, just got dd's form for school starting next year. We are currently in catchment for nice school. All fine. However...we have just bought a house just outside the catchment. As we are doing it up, we haven't moved in yet and thus are not registered there yet. New catchment school not a good one. Should I be sneaky and send off form now before we move in then change address once we have an offer, or should I wait til we've moved in and send with new address. Any thoughts? Including 'get a life you sad old cow' Am I expending too much effort on this?!!

OP posts:

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CarGirl · 23/10/2008 16:03

Surely you have to return your form very soon, isn't the deadline looming? Fill it in with the address where you live now - who knows what might happen with the housing market, you may not ever move into it.

Overmydeadbody · 23/10/2008 16:05

Fill in the form with the address you are living in now, i.e. at the time of applying to the school.

Original poster

sweetaddict · 23/10/2008 16:06

Well. we're moving in on 20th nov, deadline here 30th nov.

OP posts:

lulumama · 23/10/2008 16:06

make sure you are not so busy prevaricating that you miss the deadline, ours had to be in 13th october ( Sefton LEA) we applied to a school when out of the catchment when DS was 2, moved specifically to be in the area, and reapplied when he was 3 and we had moved in.

CarGirl · 23/10/2008 16:07

SEnd form in asap with your current address, can you delay moving in until Dec?

littleducks · 23/10/2008 16:07

well if you havent moved yet i would hand in the form with your current address

mazzystartled · 23/10/2008 16:08

yes, check your deadline
iirc, if you move you have to notify of change of address, so i'd just send it in now and wait and see

lal123 · 23/10/2008 16:10

and I'm sure i've heard on here of schools checking the residential status of pupils after they've started? I'd do it anyway and plead ignorance

mazzystartled · 23/10/2008 16:11

what i mean is if you move subsequent to handing in form you will have to notify lea anyway. or offer of place may be withdrawn, with your options limited re other schools

CarGirl · 23/10/2008 16:12

delay moving, honest.

Twiglett · 23/10/2008 16:14

delay moving until child has confirmed place

Original poster

sweetaddict · 23/10/2008 16:19

Delaying moving isn't an option really. Can't afford to keep two places, we've delayed it as long as we can.

OP posts:

anyoneelse · 23/10/2008 16:22

we had to bring our current council tax forms or something similar (utility bills etc) to the school the week we actually started school (plus the child's birth certificate) so as to show we were still at the same address and to prove age of child - i guess some authorities do check up on these critical facts. You might want to find out whether your school/authority does this.

mazzystartled · 23/10/2008 16:23

you'd have to delay until she'd actually started school in order to definitely keep a place.
offers of places can be withdrawn and often are esp if dishonesty suspected. and in that scenario you'd have very little choice about other schools, just what was available.

mazzystartled · 23/10/2008 16:24

and mega embarrassment

Original poster

sweetaddict · 23/10/2008 16:29

Yes that's what I want to avoid - it's obvious if I put it in now and then let them know we've moved later that we've been dishonest.

OP posts:

myredcardigan · 23/10/2008 17:02

It has nothing to do with the deadline. You need to be at that address in Sept.

When are the offers sent out? Could you hold onto your current house until then. Then notify them that you have recently moved. At least then places would have been allocated. Depending on the LEA, they may withdraw the offer or let you keep it.

Have you sold your current house? If not, can you stay there until Sept and rent out your new property? All a little extreme but it depends how different the schools are.

elliott · 23/10/2008 17:10

Just send it in with the current address. I think that's what you have to use anyway. It doesn't sound like you have a definite moving date for current house anyway if you don't even have an offer...
tbh I'm surprised you didn't think this through sooner, if you had already moved what school would you be applying for?

clam · 23/10/2008 17:13

myredcardigan - it depends where you live. Here, the crucial date is the admissions deadline (24th October for secondary, not sure for primary). They will only consider changes of address for up to one month after that. Where you move after that is irrelevant, even up to the starting date. Although it varies from county to county, I believe.
It depends how badly you want this school - and how much you don't want the new one. So it's up to you whether it's worth deferring the moving date. I would, personally.

Lauriefairycake · 23/10/2008 17:15

but why are you moving to an area with dreadful schools? is the secondary better for the future? or will you have the same problem?

Lukilu · 23/10/2008 17:35

At my DS's school they came round to our house the week before he started to check we lived at the address stated, plus they asked to see proof of address on the open day - again before he started. I guess use the address you are at now, get the form back in and plead ignorance, but you need a back up. You need to apply for schools near the new house or you may miss out and not be able to choose.

clam · 23/10/2008 17:43

But again, it depends on the county. Check out what yours does. Look on their website if you're unsure. Or phone them. But be aware they log all calls with your child's name and d.o.b.

myredcardigan · 23/10/2008 18:12

Sorry clam, I take it back. I've taught in about six counties across the country and sept has been the crucial date. So if you move after admissions deadline you had to notify the LEA. But, of course that could just be my experience and may well change from LEA to LEA so yes, check out your own LEA.

If its the admission date then surely you can hold onto this house for another month/6weeks in order to secure the school you want. I would.

BTW, as you currently live in catchment it is perfectly legal and correct for you to use that address and tick the catchment box (if there is one). Just do it within the next few days.

myredcardigan · 23/10/2008 18:13

Oh and send copy of council tax bill with application. That way they may not check again.

MrsGhoulofGhostbourne · 23/10/2008 18:53

According to this councils are getting tougher. Was very to see that where i live in Richmond, they have uncovered 50 (up from 5 last year) cheaters. Am not judging you! but please consider the risk

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