CYP Now - Editorial: In this case it really is a postcode lottery

It seems ironic that the week the new School Admissions Code - which is designed to make the fraught process of designating school places fairer and more transparent - became law, Brighton & Hove City Council found itself embroiled in a high-profile dispute with parents over the admissions policies of its eight secondary schools. What isn't ironic, however, are the anonymous death threats, and allegations of dirty tricks from parents furious at the council's decision.

The furore has come about because the council voted last Tuesday tointroduce a lottery system for schools that are too popular. The idea isthat any school that is oversubscribed will use an electronic ballot torandomly select pupils.

According to the council, it had to act to end the unfairness in thepresent system. The aim is also to ensure a greater social mix and tostop the practice of the best schools being filled with children whoseparents can afford to buy housing - at a premium - next to or near themost popular.

There have been no shortage of people castigating these families, butwho can blame parents for wanting the best for their children -particularly when it comes to their education? And while it is wrongthat wealthy parents have been able to play the system by buying anexpensive house in a school's catchment area, it's not difficult to seewhy those with children in Year 5, who will be the first to be affectedand who have followed this system, are so angry to see that the extramoney they've spent has, in their eyes, been wasted.

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