Incredible shananigans to get kids in chosen schools?

GillT hits the nail on the head. Why should parents be pilloried for doing what they feel is best for their child when local councils aren't doing their best for the children? You only have to read Gillybob's horror stories about the school her DGCs go to.

I didn't watch the programme but it never ceases to amaze me that this happens. I've never had to do anything to get a child into a school except let the school know the child existed and lived in its catchment area, even after Thatcher brought in the greater choice hoo-ha that has certainly helped, if not created, this nonsense.

Just thought I'd mention that because the subject keeps recurring and I keep wondering what proportion of the population are affected. Does anyone know?

I watched the programme, and felt very sorry for the mother who wanted her child to go to the church school that she had gone to, connected to the church that she had been to all her life.
Her child was allocated to a school that was fourth choice. The vicar knew that other people would stop going to his church once the allocations had been made. He had a spread sheet which showed it from previous years.
I wondered if there was an element of racism in it.

Neighbours of mine rented in the desired catchment area for a year while renting their property here to offset costs.

They have now bought a house in that area but are still renting the one close to me. They are fortunate to have the money because the area they moved to is very expensive.

We moved DD2 to a primary school in the catchment area of the secondary school we wanted her to go to as her brother and sister were already there. We were told it would not guarantee her a place so as my mother lived opposite the primary school we would have used her address had it come to that.

This was in the eighties and out of three possible secondary school, two were absolutely dire so we were not prepared to chance her future.

Fortunately, she was given a place.

It's not a new thing, I can remember my parents going to church every week with a sister to get her into a very good church school when she failed her 11 plus. I was at the grammar school, and they didn't want her to go to the local secondary modern, which had a dreadful reputation, and potentially feel inferior to me.

I think that rather than asking why and/or prosecuting parents for being dishonest in their school applications, local authorities should be asking why parents don't want their children to go to certain schools. If all schools were good, then nobody would go to the levels described of moving temporarily into catchment areas or suddenly 'finding God'. And, as we are all in this together and are supposed to be responsible parents, why are some being pilloried for going to extraordinary lengths to get their child into what they feel is the best school for them? Since when has that been an offence?

typo CHURCH of course.

I think we've all been aware of this type of thing for some time. Renting a flat or house in the catchment area/using a granny's address,/becoming regular chirchgoers etc but honestly most schools are wise to this and generally look at the application with more common sense. Church attendance is no longer an adequate criterion!

documentary now on BBC1