School place lotteries are on the rise

Greg Hurst in The Times covers new Sutton Trust Research on school admissions procedures.

Growing numbers of academies and free schools have introduced admissions lotteries or ability assessments to ensure a comprehensive intake of pupils.

A study by academics found that 121 secondary schools asked children to sit tests and used the results to offer places to pupils across all ability ranges, to guarantee a balanced intake.

The number doing this has grown from 95 schools when a similar study was last undertaken six years ago.

The latest study also found that 42 schools allocated places by lottery, which prevents wealthier parents from buying a house near by to get their children admitted.

Comparable figures from six years ago were not available but this number has almost certainly risen significantly.The Sutton Trust charity, which commissioned the research, called for more schools to introduce admissions lotteries or “banding” tests, with set numbers of places reserved for children from each ability band.

…

Conor Ryan, director of research at the Sutton Trust, said: “It is encouraging that more schools and academies are using banding and ballots, but it is important that in doing so they are sensitive to local circumstances.

“Access to the most popular comprehensives should not be limited to those who can afford to pay a premium on mortgages or rents. We believe that more urban schools should use such methods, but for them to be most effective, they should develop them with other schools and local authorities.”

Read the full article here (£).