Schools 'should select pupils by lottery'

Places at the most popular schools should be distributed by lottery, according to a think tank.

The proposal, from the Left-of-centre Social Market Foundation (SMF), is the most radical solution yet to the nightmare faced by thousands of parents in London. It suggests they should be able to apply for a place at any school, unrestricted by catchment areas.

If a school was oversubscribed, it said, places should be allocated by drawing names out of a hat, ending the trend of well-off families moving close to sought-after schools to ensure their child gains a place.

A recent study concluded that homes near good state schools sell for up to a third more than their market value. While parents already living close to a school would not be guaranteed a place under the "lucky-dip" system, they would also be spared the agony of losing out because a catchment area was drawn only yards from their front door.

The proposal is due to be published on Wednesday, on the eve of a report on school admissions by the powerful House of Commons

education select committee.

MPs are expected to savage the present admissions system.

With the most popular schools oversubscribed by up to 10 times, parental choice in the capital and other areas is more myth than reality, the report will conclude.

In fact, far from parents choosing schools, many church and former grant-maintained schools are actually picking the pupils they think will achieve the best exam results.

SMF director Philip Collins said allocating places by lottery would be "undeniably fair".

"There would be objections from middle-class families who succeed in getting places in the best state schools because they can afford to buy houses in the catchment area," he said.

"But it would mean that poorer parents would stand a better chance of getting places in good schools."

The education select committee's report is also expected to: