Moving into rented accommodation in the catchment area-when can I safely move back?

[enlondon]

I am thinking of renting a property in the catchment area of a secondary school. Once I have done this and my child is given a place (presuming everything has gone to plan and the catchment area has not all off the sudden become even smaller etc), how much longer do I need to live there before I can move safely back to our house outside the catchment area? As soon as I have filled in the application? As soon as my child is offered the place? As soon as my child has actually started in September? I actually called the LEA to ask this question and they were not sure. I asked a different LEA the same question about another school and they said that I could move out of the catchment area as soon as the application form was received! They seemed puzzled by my question though, understandably, and not sure if I trust their answer.

The thing is meditrina, they do get to choose - they are given a number of choices, some of which are less attractive/suitable than others, and sometimes go for the less attractive/suitable option if it is in catchment of their preferred school. They do then move.

And they don't have to move every 2 to 3 years if one child is coming up to GCSE age. At that point, they ask the school to write a letter explaining that a move at this stage will be detrimental to the child's studies, and in that way, they can keep things stable.

You only get to chose from the (limited) options given to you (max 3 these days, isn't it?) It's nothing like a free choice, and you could never be sure where any of those options would be. So not remotely plannable by the family themselves, not least because they have little to no input into what options they get. And there won't be funded moves unless the reasons for it are beyond the family's control.

And yes, you do have to move even if your DC is in exam run up. That's why CEA is paid so families have the option of boarding for any years where they think continuity is important.

This is not new and the pillars of society do it a hell of a lot more than your average Joe, I say go for it but be aware you need to keep it until after the 1st school term has finished as moves in the 1st school term are investigated- every one on the high horse about how wrong it is - well I say it is wrong not to do everything in your power for kids future - most of them would do it if they had too trust me - not a sensible move calling the LEA thou you might be in there raydar - very little they can do if you have a proper tenacncy agreement and council tax registerd - it is sad another child losses a place but this time bomb had been caused by them not us we should not be held to ransom to a postcode lottery where schools can put 50k onto the price of a house in the area - good luck - be aware any siblings you want admitted under sibling rule often states if move you need to still remain within 2 miles - good luck

It is dog eat dog - this is the world we live - get use to it - do what ever it takes for that school place

the pillars of society do it a hell of a lot more than your average Joe

No they don't. They may choose to live close to a good school but they don't use a false address. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of parents are caught doing this every year. Some will end up with the school they would have got had they used their genuine address. Some will end up with a worse school than they would have got, so they actually disadvantage their child by doing this.

very little they can do if you have a proper tenacncy agreement and council tax registerd

Rubbish, as people find out every year. Councils regularly catch people who have taken these precautions.

Some councils are better at catching fraudulent applications than others. In general the councils where there is a real problem with people using false addresses are best at catching fraud.

Anyone reading this is, of course, free to take James9669's advice. But you need to be aware that, even if you manage to get a place this way, your child could be thrown out of the school if the LA find out what you have done, and not only in the first term. Some people have had places withdrawn much later than this. You also need to be aware that, if you are found out, your child may end up at an even worse school than the one you would have got if you had been honest. Do you really want to take the risk?

Now the councils are asking the question "is it your only address?" If you are answering yes and keeping your out of catchment house ( while living in rented accommodation in catchment area), this is a fraud.
If you have sold your house and then rented an accommodation in the catchment, that's your only address and you are entitled to a school place. I think it is works like this.

OP - some of the responses were very rude and I feel sorry for you.

What you are doing is merely playing the system and you are only writing what others are thinking.

Anxious parents will lie, cheat and even change religions to get their little ones into the "right" school. The people responding with outrage can't tell say they've never been dishonest to gain some sort of advantage- because everyone does it!

Private schools are unaffordable for the majority. Cost of living is going up and up. Pressure for places in the best state schools is frenzied. What is a middle class person to do but cheat the system? Anyone would do the same to gain an unfair advantage and it's up to authorities to try to catch us out.

I respect your aspirations. Hope you got your foot in the educational door!

The thread is five years old.
I should think the OP has passed that stage.
(But would nonetheless be grateful for your thoughts).

2013 ZOMBIE THREAD

Hi all, does anyone know if my son will be eligible for a catchment area in Scotland where we own a place, but renting it out?
We are thinking about buying another place slightly outside of our preferred catchment area but we will still keep the place we have now. so not sure when the time comes to apply if we will be able to apply for the catchment area we like if we are renting out our place there? Do we have to be physically living there ourselves?
Any thoughts?

The Scottish system is different from England's.
But either way, you would be best off starting your own thread as this is 6 years old.