Parents lying to get into best schools face prosecution

Published on Wednesday 7 January 2009 11:30

Parents caught lying about where they live in order to get their child into sought-after schools will be charged with fraud, a council warned today.

East Renfrewshire Council is this year asking for four items of proof of address from parents hoping to enrol their child in one of its primary schools.

The local authority, whose academic results have been rated among the best in the country, is tightening the application process as parents try to beat the system.

Tricks include renting a flat in the catchment area for just one week in order to comply.

Now parents hoping to register their son or daughter must produce a birth certificate, a child benefit or family tax credit letter, a council tax letter and a mortgage or rental agreement.

Education bosses will examine the documents and parents suspected of attempting to obtain a school place by fraud will be prosecuted.

Teaching unions said the move was understandable.

A spokesman for the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said: "This is perhaps one of the more extreme examples of councils seeking proof of address.

"But if the council feels that it's an issue then it's understandable that they choose to go down this route.

"It's down to the council how much proof they ask for and how they choose to pursue any parent who tries to obtain a place by fraudulent means.

"It's understandable that parents will always want the best opportunities for their child but councils are legally required to offer first choice to those living within the catchment area."

East Renfrewshire education convener Alan Lafferty said: "Our first duty is to our own residents to ensure that their children get a place at our schools.

"That's why we're insisting on these checks and if parents can't provide us with the necessary documents, then their children simply won't get in.

"We're also warning that we'll thoroughly investigate suspicious circumstances and prosecute where necessary as fraudulently attempting to gain a place at one of our schools is at the expense of a child who has a genuine right to be at that school."

East Renfrewshire said it investigated 20 cases of attempted false entry last year.

In each case parents withdrew when challenged.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said the decision on the enrolment procedure was up to the council.

The Conservative's education spokeswoman Liz Smith questioned the current system, which she said "breeds an unhealthy degree of competition".

Ms Smith said: "I'm not happy with a system where a postcode matters. I think there needs to be greater flexibility.

"No parent should be telling untruths just to get their child into a particular school.

"We would like a system where there is more freedom in local authorities. It shouldn't be a case of one size fits all."