A THIRD person has come forward to allege that parents are cheating to get into Huddersfield's top schools.

In recent weeks the Examiner has carried reports from two fathers saying people were buying second homes in Salendine Nook to get their children into the high school there.

And now a mother has contacted us to say people are even cheating to get their kids into a primary school.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, has children at Lindley Junior and Lindley Infants CofE School.

Her children were not guaranteed places at the schools even though they live in the catchment area. The woman believes more than 50 children at the schools do not live locally.

She said: "I was under the impression that local schools were for local children, but when I come to pick up my kids I see loads of cars heading back to Birkby.

"People from all over Huddersfield are using friends', family's or business premises' addresses as their child's residence. We even have pupils from Halifax who have never lived in Huddersfield."

She thinks Kirklees Council's residency checks must be more vigorous.

She said: "Surely they could access council tax records, or would that mean they would have to work for a living?"

But Kirklees school admissions officer Warwick Firmin defended the system.

He said: "We check addresses where there is any doubt about accuracy or possible deception, but we operate on the assumption that the vast majority of details are accurate.

"More detailed checks would be perceived as heavy-handed, offensive and an intrusion."