Controversial lotteries for school places could be banned under government proposals.

Yesterday Education Secretary Michael Gove said he believes random allocations are unfair and pledged to end the practice.

If the proposals go ahead it is unclear what the future would be for Brighton and Hove's lottery admission system, which was introduced four years ago.

Brighton and Hove City Council said the way the city's system works means the government does not technically class it as "area-wide" because the council divides Brighton and Hove into four catchment areas.

However Department for Education officials said the government viewed lotteries as unfair so it was likely to fall under any ban.

It will be up to the independent watchdog, the Office of the Schools Adjudicator, to ultimately decide whether or not the city's admissions system complied with the code.