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Hayley investigates cheating over school places
Hayley investigates school places
Lots of people are talking about the problem of parents lying so they can get their kids into their first choice of school.
But what do you feel about it?
Is it wrong for a family to pretend they live somewhere so their kids get a better education? Do you think it's OK in some cases?
Do you know anyone whose parents broke the rules? Would your parents cheat so you could go to the best school in your area?
Unfortunately this topic is now closed but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.
Your comments
"I think is stupid that parents think they can lie and then tell us that we should never lie. I do know my parents didn't do this as I am at a public high school."
Olivia, 11, Leicestershire, England
"I think it is not such a good idea because some of the answers on the internet might be wrong and then they will get some of the questions wrong."
Shadi, 9, Yorkshire, England
"I think it is a good idea but there should be restrictions on what websites they are allowed to use!"
Chubbyrobo, 12, England
"I think that it is wrong for parents to lie. Thankfully my mum didn't lie because if I don't pass my 11 plus, I live well within the catchment area for my preferred school, which is a good one. So I'll definitely get a place."
Hannah, 11, Surrey, England
"I don't think parents should lie and anyway parents tell us not to lie. If the school found out that they did lie wouldn't their child be taken out of school? I just don't see the point of it all."
Natalie, 10, Stirling, Scotland
"They shouldn't lie. They are actually robbing people who may live closer to the school than they do of an opportunity to go to the school. I say be honest and be fair."
Joanne, 10, Manchester, England
"It is OK if they want their kid to have a better education. Face the facts they want us to be happy!"
Chloe, 11, UK
"We think that it is wrong for parents to lie - they should be setting us a good example. We agree that parents should be fined for cheating because they should be forced to take responsibility for their wrong actions."
Year 6, Essex, England
"It is really wrong. If people actually worked hard to get it, then surely they could. My parents worked hard to give me a private education, and look where I am now!"
Rio, 10, Bristol, England
"I think people can get the same education in any other school. Lying about things just makes it worse!"
Ellie, 13, Nottingham, England
"I did the 11+ and passed, but my brother failed and now he's changed his mind about what school he wants to go to."
Sophie, 12, Kent, England
"I am taking the 11+ soon and my mum didn't lie but it is really bad that people who deserve places might not get them because of the people who lie. Good luck anyone else taking the 11+ plus soon."
Jessica, 10, Devon, England
"I think it is stupid to lie to your kids and the next school."
Honor, 10, London, England
"Is it fair for some people to be given a better education that others, just because of where you live? Yes, it is wrong to lie like this but shouldn't things be done to try and improve poor schools so that everyone can get the same standard of education. Then there would be no need for cheats!"
Amy, 14, Hertfordshire, England
"I think it's horrific that parents are lying because if they want their kids to get an excellent education, why can't they just be truthful about it and find another school?"
Amreen, 12, Kent, England
"I don't think it's fair that parents get their kids into their preferred schools by lying, because some of the honest parents' children get their least favourite schools and want to go to a different school. Some people may get jealous because their friends' parents have been lying to get to the school that their friend would have wanted to go to."
Rubie, 11, UK
"Well parents shouldn't lie to be a good role model but all they want to do is keep their child happy."
Rebecca, 11, Scotland
"I think it's wrong. What good does it do?"
Debbie, 11, Yorkshire, England
"I think they should not cheat because the kid whose parents cheated might get in and the other kid whose parents didn't cheat might not."
Oscar, 10, England
"They should move if they want their child to get into a certain school, not lie!"
Aimee, 9, UK
"It is very wrong."
Katie, 8, England
"I think that if parents are lying to schools then teachers might give you harder or more work on that subject."
Katie, 8, Durham, England
"I think that it is wrong that parents cheat to get their child into the school of their choice but if you know that the schools in your area aren't the best of what they could be then it would be easier to lie because you could get bullied at that school."
Brianna, 10, Shropshire, England
"What is wrong with cheating?"
Liv, 8, London, England
"In my opinion I think it's really unfair, as parents should push their children to work hard and do well, instead of lying. It's also a bad example to their kids."
Amar, 12, Watford, England
"My mum would never do that, the adults should take the good example and teach their children not to lie."
Amelia, 11, Milton Keynes, England
"Ithinkthatparentsshouldnotcheat, iftheydotheymightsendtheirchildrentoaschoolthatistohardforthemandtheywillhavealotofdifficultiesthere. IamdyslexicandifIIgotsenttoaschoolthatwastoohardformeiwouldhavealotoftroubleandwanttomoveschool."
Caroline, 12, England
"We get told off for lying, now parents are doing it, parents should be showing a good example to kids."
Amina, 13, London, England
"I think that you should tell the truth about where you live because if the government find out then it's the parents that end up in trouble and it's not fair on the other children who live in the area."
Mitchel, 12, Lancashire, England
"It's not our parents fault, they just want us to have a good education! There shouldn't be much class on where you are or what you're like just as long as you're in for the education."
Abbigail, 12, Yorkshire, England
"I have just got into my secondary school and if my mum cheated to get me in, I would feel guilty more than I would be happy. But luckily I have an older sister!"
Mae, 11, Bath, England
"I don't think it is a problem to cheat for a place at school because you might live in a rough area and your parents then want you to go a school that they believe to be better. Or if you want to go to a school because of your friends then I think it should be okay to cheat or schools should just extend the catchment area. Some of my friends have had to move so they can get into the local school which is unfair as parents can't always afford to move."
Tillie, 12, Bristol, England
"Well, I go to a school 30-40 minutes away from my house because all the schools in the neighbourhood aren't that good!"
Kats, 14, London, England
"Parents should not lie because it is unfair on other kids who want to go to the school and live nearby."
Livvie, 10, London, England
"I think it is unfair because some people are doing it fairly and the parents who are cheating are giving their child a better chance to get into a certain school where a child who is doing it fairly might not get in. Altogether it is very unfair."
Katie, 10, Northern Ireland
"My mum just wrote my application and I'm in the top group in school. I read it and she didn't lie at all and I want to go to the best secondary school in Plymouth and my second choice was the nearest secondary to me. All my friends are going there and my cousin."
Kallan, 11, Plymouth, England
"I think it is totally out of order to lie. If somebody said they live really close to a school when somebody else lives a lot closer and gets in, then the people who live close don't get in. If that was me and I knew the far away people lied I would get my parents to take it to court."
Nikkie, 10, Hertfordshire, England
"I think that parents should tell the truth on application forms because then the child has an equal chance of getting in, just like everyone else."
Eleanor, 11, Lincoln, England
"I think that lying on the form is not good because if you lie to the school you're lying to your kid and your kid could copy and cheat on a test and get full marks when they could have done it themselves."
Hattie, 11, Leicestershire, England
"I think that it is unfair that people cheat about their place as my parents had tried to get me, my brother and my sister into school while other people just walk in. It took me a year to get into school."
Cameron, 11, Essex, England
"I don't think parents should lie because it may affect the child in the way the other children and staff treat their child!!"
Lily, 9, Liverpool, England
"I think that parents shouldn't lie about anything on forms, because it's not going to get them anywhere! If you don't get the school you want just talk to the school and council and see if they can make any changes."
Megan, 11, Leicester, England
"Parents should be allowed to do whatever they want, as they are adults."
Kate, 14, London, England
"I think it's unfair because then children who should really be in that school might not get in."
Charlotte, 11, Hertfordshire, England
"I understand why parents lie to get their children into their preferred school, but I still think it's wrong. When parents lie about their information/details, they are depriving another student of a place at that school. Also parents always teach their children to tell the truth. If parents are lying about their children's details, what sort of example are they setting? It certainly isn't a good one."
Geraldine, 13, London, England
"I think it is okay in some cases like if the only local school is really rough."
Rizwan, 13, Blackburn, England
"I think it is wrong for parents to cheat but if the government built more schools instead of closing them down and improved discipline in schools I believe that this would all stop."
Cameron, 14, Worcester, England
"In Kent we have the Kent test (11+) so we don't have to have an application form, if we pass we go to a grammar school and if we fail we go to a comprehensive school. There is no way you won't get a place at a grammar if you pass unless your parents send a form to say they want you to go to a comprehensive, so we don't have this problem."
Carla, 12, Kent, England
"It's not fair if a one child gets a place and those who don't cheat don't get a place."
Courtney, 11, Cardiff, Wales
"They only lie because they think the other schools are bad. If all the schools were good, they wouldn't have to lie."
Che, 11, London, England
"If you don't get a place you can go onto to the waiting list."
Cherry, 10, UK
"I think it is fine to cheat because some kids want to get in to some schools but can't and some schools aren't very good and all their friends might go to that good school that their parents want to send them to. Some parents are desperate so they have to cheat."
Esme, 11, Surrey, England
"I think that it's actually okay. I was put in a school that I didn't even put down on my application. The parents are putting the child's education first!"
Bunsi, 12, London, England
"I think that parents cheating is bad because it's unfair for the children who would have to go through a lot of change to start with."
Florence, 11, Norwich, England
"We get told off for lying, now parents are doing it! Parents should be showing a good example to kids."
Amina, 13, London, England
"I think it is not fair on the people that do not cheat and don't get to go to the school that they want to go to."
Lauren, 13, Wrexham, Wales
"What kind of example are these parents setting us by lying to schools?"
Ryan, 13, Peterhead, Scotland
"I got the worst school in my area and I had no school to go to for five weeks. I think it is bad to cheat to get in to a good school because people who live close don't get a chance."
Mandy, 11, St. Albans, England
"I think that your parents are just wanting you to get a better education."
Lucy, 11, Dunfermline, England
"I think its wrong because there are many people that aren't lying and not getting a space in that school. Plus it's really wrong."
Phoebe, 11, Wales
"I think that lying is wrong and parents should just honestly apply to schools. If they lie they are setting a bad example for their children."
Louise, 13, Hampshire, England
"Although it is dishonest for parents to lie, does it really matter when it comes to a first class education?"
Laura, 13, Liverpool, England
"I think that it is wrong and if people are having to lie to get into school that is not nearby then they should move. If people are living nearer to a school and the place is being taken up by somebody who isn't - it isn't fair and a bit selfish if people are lying to get into a school that isn't nearby."
Anna, 10, Shropshire, England
"I don't think it's fair that some people's parents are lying so they can their kids into the first choice of school. Then other children may have to be put into rubbish schools which doesn't really teach you anything."
Bethany, 11, West Yorkshire, England
"I think that when parents lie about schools it sets a bad example for the children."
Becky, 11, London, England
"Why should parents be punished for wanting their children to have a good education?"
Zoe, 11, Kent, England
"I can understand why some parents would lie to get their children into their first choice of school, because it's an important thing, and the school has to be right for the child, but I don't think it's fair if they lie and get a place, when a child who lives closer to the school doesn't get a place because of it."
Alice, 14, Worcester, England
"When I chose what high school I wanted to go to, I didn't get into the school I put down for my first choice. Neither did others in my class. But when I went to my second choice high school, people in my year lied to get into a school. I thought what is the point, as long as you go to a school that is all what matters."
Finlayisha, 14, Berlin, Germany
"I think it is wrong and a bit stupid. The school will soon find out when letters they send don't go to the right address!"
Kayleigh, 12, England
"I think it is wrong because if people lie to the school saying that they live nearby and then get a place, but they do not really live near the school then it's not fair on the parents that live near the school. Their children then don't get a place because there are no spaces left."
Miriam, 12, Luton, England
"I think they shouldn't lie because someone in my class had their parents lied to get their sister into a private school. I am in a private primary school and some people lied to get in."
Amelia, 7, Cheshire, England
"I think that they shouldn't lie because it is wrong. But you have got to accept that the parents are trying to do the best for their kids and get them better educated."
Layla, 10, New York, USA
"Parents are trying to do their best for their kids, so they want them to have a better job. They lie to get them into a good school so their child gets a better education."
Marie-Anne, 10, Liverpool, England
"Why I don't see the point?! Even if you do want a good education, it's stupid."
Madi, 10, Gloucestershire, England
"I think that they shouldn't lie because it is just horrible. They should understand that they might not able to get in, and they should accept that and choose a different school instead of lying."
Richard, 12, Yorkshire, England
"I think it's wrong for someone's parents to pretend they live somewhere in order to get their child into a good school. Another child who may have more right to a place in that school may not get a place if too many people are lying about where they live to get their children into the school so I think It's wrong and people should not do it."
Lydia, 12, UK
"Well, parents shouldn't lie about it because sooner or later they are going to be found out. But getting a better education is important."
Maya, 10, UK
"Parents should not lie about this stuff."
Tanya, 12, Huddersfield, England
"No it's not because my school is the only school in my area that helps kids with hearing aids. Someone got rejected because they said they lived here but actually they lived somewhere else."
Matthew, 10, Wiltshire, England
"It is wrong but parents want the best education for their children and if that is what you have to do it has to be done."
Suzanne, 14, Herts, England
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