Children applying to over-subscribed schools could soon be selected on the basis of how close they live to city landmarks rather than the school itself.

If adopted, the new policy would mean children applying to Dorothy Stringer School in Brighton are chosen depending on how close they live to The Level, while applications to Blatchington Mill in Hove would hinge on how near the pupil's home is to the Sussex County Cricket Ground.

The policy is one of the proposals put forward by a review panel at Brighton and Hove City Council after more than 1,000 parents in east Brighton signed a petition protesting at the way it selects children for over-subscribed secondary schools.

Last year the city council changed from using priority areas, which take account of the distance children would travel to other schools and public transport links, to a distance-only measure from prospective pupils' houses.

This meant many families in areas such as Hanover, Elm Grove and Queens Park lived too far away to get a place at any of their preferred schools.

A review panel began looking at the issue in July and has now come up with a number of proposals for parents to comment on.

The majority of admission problems stem from the fact that secondary schools are not evenly distributed around the city so the panel has suggested making Dorothy Stringer in Loder Road and Blatchington Mill in Nevill Avenue "dual node" schools.

Rather than measuring the distance from pupils' houses to the school, a second more central reference point would be used - The Level for Dorothy Stringer and the County Cricket Ground in Eaton Road for Blatchington Mill. This would allow families previously excluded geographically a chance of getting a place but it would be at the expense of some children who actually live closer to the schools.

Parents have been asked to state whether they wish to adopt the dual node system, take all applications for Dorothy Stringer based on distance from The Level, go back to priority areas or keep the existing distance-only measure. They have also been asked to comment on whether parents should continue to make three ranked school preferences or three of equal value.

Mick Landmann, who lives with his partner Diane Kirkland and their children Charlotte, ten, and Jamie, eight, in Freshfield Road, has welcomed the suggestions.

He said: "This spells out a more equitable and fair system across the board. The nodal system makes a very significant difference to east Brighton and puts it in a position it's never had before."

Lynne Nicholls, who lives with her partner John Scott and her daughter Elizabeth, ten, said: "I am pleased with what they are suggesting. We used to be on the edge of priority areas for Stringer but the closure of Comart and the change in admissions knocked us completely out of the game."

However, not all parents are entirely happy. Sue Young lives just five minutes from Dorothy Stringer in Surrenden Crescent. Her eldest daughter Holly, ten, currently attends Balfour Junior School in Balfour Road.

She said: "I think a split catchment is a good idea because it has been very difficult for people in east Brighton. But if they just use The Level and we end up walking past our nearest school while someone else drives their child in from the other side of town, that strikes me as insanity."