Church of England School May Allocate Places by Lottery

Spaces at Lady Margaret Church of England School in London could be allocated by lottery next year.

The school, one of the most successful schools in the country, is believed to be the first Anglican school considering the idea, the Church Times reports.

The school has about 450 first- and second-preference applicants chasing 90 places.

It is understood that governors are considering proposals that would have the final allocation of desks made on a random basis. After an initial sorting of applicants according to ability band, nearness to the school, for foundation places, and church attendance, places in each group would be distributed by lottery.

Each year, 90 places in Lady Margaret School are split: 50 foundation for church attendees, and 40 open. After pupil interviews were banned, the school continued using primary-school reports, which included applicants' attendance and punctuality, as well as academic ability. These reports are now also outlawed.

The admissions process, it is understood, now sorts pupils between ability bands, with half the available places divided between the highest and lowest bands, and half given to pupils of average ability. For foundation places, strength of church affiliation is taken into account. So, for all pupils, is the distance between home and school.

Tom Peryer, Diocesan Director of Education for London, foresees that some form of lottery will increasingly be used to allocate places at oversubscribed schools - a condition affecting 12 of the diocese's 15 comprehensives.

"I do not think some form of random selection between pupils who equally meet other criteria is inherently wrong."