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Original poster

Accused of false application to school

46 replies

Mirandashome · 05/07/2009 21:31

Help ,
I broke up with my partner temporarily and at the point when I filled in my daughters school apllication I was at a different address in the catchment area for this school I was also suffering with depression . Someone has now reported me for this and I have had a letter to say her school place could be withdrawn . I don't know what to do I didn't lie but I haven't written proof I was at the other address .There are no other school places available for September so if they take her place off her she won't have a school to go to ... Any one got any advice I have to send a letter tomorrow

OP posts:

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madwomanintheattic · 06/07/2009 12:19

in order to work the system you have to know the system - and that means ensuring proof of address.
the lea will sort out a yr r place for your dd, miranda, but it might not be what you wanted - but presumably if you are now living somewhere else, the school you applied to from your 'temporary' address probably isn't convenient anyway, so six and two threes really.
we have to show council tax bills here too. which is an issue as military families don't get them - we pay at source. so, i've had to produce utilities bills in lieu. given that my eldest child has been at the school for two years already, we showed 'proof' then, and we haven't moved, i got the right hump about the red tape the second time around...
hey ho. call the lea and explain op. but best not to overstate your demands - just ask them for help to sort it out as you were at a vulnerable point and may not have understood the application process thoroughly enough.

1dilemma · 06/07/2009 12:22

we don't have to proove address when we apply but I think some schools ask for it when starting, we had moved betwee applying and starting but it a totally legit way (not saying yours wasn't) but prooving ours was no problem all bills changed etc.

Our LA also has rules about temporary moves eg moving out to get house done up, etc they take the address of the house being done up as the one for school application

gladders · 06/07/2009 14:26

we had to send in a copy of the council tax bill with the application, so you wouldn't have been awarded the place here...

i just don't think your story stacks up to be honest. you moved home temporarily due to depression ok - but you were together enough to fill in the school application form using your temporary address? why would you do that if you were only staying with a friend?
(which i assume you were if you have no bills/correspondence?)

even a doctors note to say you were ill or a note from neigbours to confirm you were there is unlikely to cut much ice with the LEA? there is no clause in admissions rules which says you get preferential treatment if your parents are unwell.

TEJQ · 06/07/2009 14:56

"I have no objection to anyone 'tricking' their way into 'good' schools but I maintain to be a good liar you have to be very clever."

Interesting comment, but I'm afraid people like me whose fourth child loses out on a place by literally feet and have lived in close proximity to the school for 20 years, and had three kids pass through it, may feel that people who carry out such tricks should be liable to have their child's place withdrawn if this is discovered in the first year at the school, and be told that there is no place for their child the following year.

Ninjacat · 06/07/2009 14:59

I get so pissed of with parents being treated like criminals because they want the best for their kids. If the government made all schools equal then we wouldn't have this problem. It's the system that is unfair and unjust.

TEJQ · 06/07/2009 15:32

Ninjacat,

Getting rid of SAT's, league tables and school-snobbery would be a big improvement and it would be like it was when I was a kid - you just went to the nearest school = period.

LIZS · 06/07/2009 15:40

Presumably under your current, permanent address your dd would not have been eligible for a place and is therefore denying another child one ? In which case where you were resident at that time, and whether you knowingly put a temporary address which happened to be advantagous on the form, isn't strictly relevant any longer. I expect there was a note on the form that should the details be found inaccurate(as they now are) the LEA would reserve the right to withdraw the offer of a place.

If her place is withdrawn and offered to another, more eligible child, a place should become available for your daughter at another school. Your dd could still go on the waiting list for this one in case others drop out.

SoupMeerkat · 06/07/2009 15:49

Personally, I don't think you have a leg to stand on whether you really were there at the time of application or not. DD's acceptance letter states that they can withdraw the offer should there be significant change in the circumstance of the application (in particular a change of address).

EldonAve · 06/07/2009 15:54

of the timing of this against the recent press story - are you sure you're not a journo OP?

SoupMeerkat · 06/07/2009 15:57

That was my first thought, I have to confess Either that or they are a namechanger. Or both...

MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 06/07/2009 15:59

Eldon - The thought had crossed my mind too. That's why I mentioned the Pinner case in my first post.

MerlinsBeard · 06/07/2009 16:01

I don't really understand this properly (assuming that it's genuine which i doubt)

You moved out of your house that was NOT in catchment to temporarily live someone where IN catchment, knowing it was temp you applied for the school in the catchment of the temporary house anyway? So you were never eligible for aplace in the first place

EldonAve · 06/07/2009 16:04

If the OP put a temp address on her application form how did she receive the school offer?

SoupDragon · 06/07/2009 16:10

Had post forwarded I imagine.

LIZS · 06/07/2009 16:46

or passed on if she stayed with a friend

Frasersmum123 · 06/07/2009 16:59

nickschick · 06/07/2009 17:08

What I mean by saying I have no objection to people tricking their way into a good school basically is that its no business of mine, we all want whats best for our dc but to lie longterm is very hard as the o.p has discovered.

In my opinion if I were to go to such levels of deception I would cover all basics first ie,council tax bills etc etc.

It is a shame when you cant get your dc into a 'good' local school because people from out side the boundaries have temporarily split with their partners and I do see your frustrations but equally its a great shame when you live in an area that the catchment for is a dire school.

Its a bit like the ivf postcode lottery.

nickschick · 06/07/2009 17:11

Can I also add I didnt have to lie about where I lived to get my dc in their 'good' school,I dont think its something you can pass off lightly.

catinthehat2 · 06/07/2009 18:10

Have you done this already?

Or are you actually working out good ways to pad out a basic story for next year using tried and tested methods from an online parents forum?

Or does your husband work for News International as well?

SoupDragon · 06/07/2009 18:35

"its no business of mine" Like I said, I'm sure you'd change your mind if it were your child who missed out on a place because of some else's lies.

nickschick · 06/07/2009 18:55

Yes Im sure I would,I didnt set out to offend you soupy.

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