More than one in four parents break admissions rules or play the system – poll

More than one in four parents have bent the rules, lied or played the system to get their child into their preferred school, a survey has suggested.

The proportion of families who admit to flouting the rules or playing the system so their children can get into the school they desire has risen in recent years – from 24% in 2022 to 27% this year, according to Zoopla.

A poll found that 5% of parents said they lied, bent or broke the rules to help get their child into their preferred school, while a further 12% said they had “slightly bent” some of the rules and told “white lies”.

Meanwhile, a further 10% said they had played the system to their advantage.

The survey was carried out among 1,019 people across the UK who applied for a school place for their child or children in the last five years.

Religious beliefs

Among the parents who admitted to bending the rules or playing the system, 30% said they registered their child at another family member’s address that was closer to the school, and 25% said they exaggerated their religious beliefs or attended religious services in order to secure a school place.

Meanwhile, nearly one in 10 (9%) said they temporarily rented a second home inside the catchment area, while 7% said they moved into a catchment area only to leave once their child’s place was secured.

The Labour Government’s policy to apply VAT to private schools – which came into effect earlier this month – may have contributed to the increase in families flouting the rules, a consumer expert at Zoopla has suggested.

Among the parents who admitted to bending the rules or playing the system, 8% said they did so because their child/children previously went to a private school but they could no longer afford the fees.

Meanwhile, 5% said they had intended to send their child/children to an independent school but they could no longer afford it, according to the poll conducted by Mortar Research this month.

Daniel Copley, a consumer expert at Zoopla, said: “In 2022, we were shocked at the number of parents going to extreme lengths to get their child into their desired school, so it is even more surprising to see that number increase.

“It’s clear that the removal of VAT relief on private school fees is placing even more competition on school places, flouting the rules is even more endemic, no matter where you are in the country.”

‘Longstanding issue’

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “There is a longstanding issue of families moving into the catchment area of popular schools in affluent areas.

“Often these schools have positive Ofsted ratings and are oversubscribed, leaving schools elsewhere with places left unfilled.

“This is one reason why the removal of blunt Ofsted ratings is so important, and the need for a more nuanced system remains paramount.

“Above all, the government needs to invest in education to ensure that all parents and pupils have access to a good school in their community.

“This would negate the need for parents to take any specific actions in order to obtain a school place, let alone consider breaking any rules.”