School turns boy away after parents lie

A young boy was turned away on his first day at school because his parents had lied to land him a place at a sought-after primary.

He was sent home from Dulwich Hamlet Primary School in south London after Southwark council discovered he did not live at the address given by his parents.

The boy and his parents were greeted by a council officer as they arrived for him to register. The mother and father were told their son would be unable to start classes and must leave immediately.

Southwark investigated during the summer holidays.

It was believed the parents had given a false address to get the child a place.

The council denied acting inappropriately in approaching the parents at the school. A spokeswoman said: "A parent submitted false information about their address when they applied for a school place.

"Therefore that place was withdrawn and given to a child who was eligible. Because we were unable to contact the family as they had given us false contact details, we were unable to tell them and had no choice but to inform them at the school.

"We have advised the family on reapplying to schools in their own borough or in Southwark."