How big a crime is lying to try and get your child into a good school?
Plenty of parents have tried it by falsely claiming they live in the school’s catchment area or by suddenly getting religion but the worst that happens up till now is that they get found out and their child is turned away.
Now Harrow Council in London wants to go further and prosecute them. It had to withdraw a test case for fraud against the mother of a five-year-old it accused of lying about her address on the school application form but it wants new powers to enable it to take such parents to court.
“This is not a question of persecuting individuals,” said Council leader David Ashton. “We took the view we should prosecute, because we have to ensure there is a level playing field for all parents.”
Do you believe parents should be hauled before a court simply for wanting the best for their children?
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6 comments so far
I like the way you phrase the question at the end? How about: Should parents be hauled before a court for teaching their kids that it is alright to lie in order to get ahead?
- Posted by BensonDoes that mean that parents can prosecute Councils for failure to provide decent schools for all children in their borough?
- Posted by nickNO - Councils have far too many powers today, to prosecute their ‘customers’, enforce their demands (even where wrongly made) and invade the general publics’ privacy, never mind the increasing surveillance which is worse now than even 1984 envisaged. Councils have become bloated organisations without accountability, based on majority decisions always made at meetings - so no one individual can be ever be accused of anything - all of which is powered by OUR money. If a parent falsely declares personal information in an attempt to get their child into their chosen school, the normal council procedures should be sufficiant to pick this up automatically, it is not rocket science but normal admin cross checks - it does not justify yet another criminal offence on the statutes nor the money being wasted on lawyers.
- Posted by BrianWhen the US Army finds out that an inductee has lied on their application, they are dishonorably discharged. Fraud is a terrible problem in our country because of the lack of penalty.
- Posted by PhyllisoficalHaving been through the appeal system when i know people that have rented out their home and moved into catchment in order to get their children into a ‘good school’ I do feel that it is wrong. My partner and I went through 6 months of hell. We did get in on appeal but people who cheated the system made money from renting out their million + home and renting a cheaper place IN CATCHMENT. I think the systems are open to abuse by people who can afford to do so but are too cheap to pay for private education. Morally wrong and they are allowed to do so
- Posted by a parentThis blog and the linked news item is confusing. Is it saying that the council wants the ability to prosecute people ITSELF, or is it simply wanting a change in the law to create a new offence of giving false information to get a child into a particular school, so that it can report suspected cases to the police for investigation and possible prosecution?
The difference is important. Creating a new offence to clarify existing law is reasonable as the behaviour referred to is undoubtedly fraud and if people are caught doing it they should expect punishment of some description. On the other hand, giving a council the right to prosecute someone is another dangerous step down the road of a totalitarian state and should not be permitted.
This is another instance where Reuters would do its readers a big favour by providing a bit more depth and balance in its reporting.
- Posted by Andrew