Address con pupils lose places
Children in the Dudley borough have had secondary school places withdrawn after their parents were exposed as using fake addresses.
Education chiefs at Dudley Council launched a series of investigations after reports of fraudulent applications for places at several popular schools including Hillcrest School, Netherton.
The Express & Star revealed in May some parents give the address of a grandparent or other relative living near their preferred school, as distance is a factor taken into consideration.
The con came to light after 52 children in Dudley Wood who selected Hillcrest School as their first choice were refused a place and instead offered one at Pedmore Technology College three miles away.
The council was called on to investigate and assistant director of children's services, Ray Watson, confirmed a number of children have lost their places because of their parents' dishonesty. Head teacher at Hillcrest School, April Garratt, backed the education officers' actions.
Councillor Bryan Cotterill said: "When I am getting parents coming to see me in tears because their son or daughter has been refused a place at a school a stone's throw away then we should be taking it seriously."
