I'll only admit pupils we want, says head

One of the capital's most successful state schools has defended its right to pick the pupils it wants.

Coopers' Company and Coborn School in Havering is hugely oversubscribed, receiving 600 applicants for 180 places each year.

Head Dr Davina Lloyd said: "That means you are going to have to make some decisions about who you're going to accept. We're not selective academically - we got rid of entrance exams back in 1997.

"We have seven entrance criteria including faith, catchment area, whether children have any siblings at the school and any special medical or social needs."

The school has a reputation for music and sport. This is the real testing ground for applicants, Dr Lloyd said. "If you don't want to get involved with sport and the arts, then you shouldn't be coming. If you came here and didn't want to participate, just wanted nine-to-four schooling and were not prepared to come in on Saturday mornings, then it wouldn't be the right school.

"Different schools offer different sorts of opportunities," she said. "It's about what a school can offer you.

"In many ways it's up to the parents, when they are looking round, to decide what best suits their child," Dr Lloyd said.

"But it's up to me to make it very clear what we're about. It's important to know what you're buying into.

"We don't want people who are not prepared to join in. We don't want people opting out."