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Comment

Schools Secretary Ed Balls has acknowledged that "many" parents whose children's school places are determined by a lottery system like Brighton and Hove's believe it is unfair.

Mr Balls, challenged by The Argus over the fairness of random allocation, was luke warm in his support for the system, pointing out that while it was permitted under the admissions code, he did not "see any groundswell from other authorities wanting to copy Brighton".

The lottery was used for the first time in Brighton and Hove this year along with a network of catchment areas. More than 2,300 children found out earlier this month which school they had been allocated.

The minister said nationally more parents were getting their first choice of school - more than 80 per cent across the country.

Mr Balls then added: "I can see that many people in the lottery or ballot example don't feel that it's fair. My feeling is I don't see any groundswell from other authorities wanting to copy Brighton."

The minister admitted the state school system was "not good enough" because in 600 schools less than 30 per cent of pupils achieved Grade A to C at GCSEs including English and maths.

But he said this was a big improvement on the 1,600 failing schools which existed when Labour came to power in 1997, following years of "underinvestment" in education.

For more information about education in your area visit the local information section of this website.

news@theargus.co.uk

10:07am Friday 28th March 2008

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