The neighbourhood comprehensive school was not just the guarantor of a fair allocation of educational resources and opportunities, but the bedrock of a more egalitarian society.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

In Northamptonshire, three schools are now using random allocation within a system of fair banding to try to achieve a comprehensive intake.

BBC: Pupils told their school places

Some local authorities have resorted to random allocation of school places, which at least is scrupulously fair.

ECONOMIST: Ministers want to make the great schools game harder to play