We're on lookout for bogus applications, warns Council

5.09.00pm GMT Fri 25th Jan 2008

Richmond Council this week vowed to continue rooting out bogus admission applications for the borough's primary schools as a rise in their number was revealed.

With greater demand for places in recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of parents giving a false address in a bid to secure a place at their preferred school. The most common practices are: parents stating the address of the child's grandparents as being the child's home; parents stating the address of a property which they own but are renting out to other people; and parents who own more than one property not giving their correct home address. If a child gains a place on the basis of false information, the Council has the power to remove that child from the school.

Cllr Malcolm Eady, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education on Richmond Council, said: "Our primary schools are the best in the country and, as a result, extremely popular. We are appealing to people to always play fair when they submit their applications. We want to send out a strong message to anyone trying to break the rules in order to secure a place: you won't succeed. The Council's Admissions Team checks every application very thoroughly against Council records and is aware of every ruse in the book. We work extremely hard to find places for every child and to ensure that the system is transparent and fair to all. I can give a strong assurance that we will continue to root out applications that aren't bona fide. I urge everyone to stick to the rules."

See also: http://www.richmond.gov.uk/school_admissions