Here’s the question for this week's TES Magazine, let us know what you think.

If you are having trouble voting on the poll inside this post, try this version instead (scroll down near the lower right-hand side of the page). 

A city-wide lottery would be fair.  A lottery based on "catchment zones" is rubbish.

jacob:

No. What the hell is wrong with choosing by ability?

How do you envisage that working?

creasey:

lapinrose:

 No it's not, the system they have in Brighton is ridiculous. Often pupils have to travel for an hour to reach the allocated school, whilst at the same time another pupil is doing the reverse journey. 

Is that what is actually happening in Brighton?  The lottery is supposed to take place within catchments even if lily doesn't approve.

I thought catchment areas were old hat? Yes, pupils are having to travel from where they live by the gate to a school to one the other side of the city. Ludicrous.

lapinrose:

Yes, pupils are having to travel from where they live by the gate to a school to one the other side of the city. Ludicrous.

Can you provide more details?  I know Brighton and Hove, although I have not lived there for years.

lapinrose:

I thought catchment areas were old hat?

No, despite the publicity surrounding Brighton's introduction of the lottery, what they actually did, in the first instance, was replace shortest walking distance allocation with catchment areas.  Two of the catchments each contain 2 schools and you do not have a greater entitlement to a particular school whether you live next door or if you live on the edge of the catchment. However you would have priority over someone outwith the catchment.