A REPORT on the use of a random lottery to decide on who gets school places is to be studied by Bexley Council.

The council had been awaiting the outcome of the report by the schools chief adjudicator, Dr Elizabeth Passmore.

When the Harris Academy Falconwood, formerly Westwood Technology College, in The Green, Welling, was setting up it included plans to decide school places by lottery, when it is oversubscribed.

Bexley was unhappy with the idea and objected.

But the council’s protests were rejected by Schools Secretary Ed Balls, and the academy, in common with others in the Harris Federation, introduced the system.

Dr Passmore was then asked by Mr Balls to look at the issue of random lotteries, which is used by less than a hand ful of local authorities and some voluntary aided and foundation schools.

Mr Balls wanted to see how widespread the practice is and whether it produces a fair outcome.

Dr Passmore’s report, published on Monday, concluded that no changes needed to be made to the School Admissions Code .

But parents in Bexley have also objected to the use of the lottery system by the Harris academy.

Mohmed Faizel is furious his son Ahmed, 11, lost out on a place at the academy thanks to its lottery system.

Under the normal Bexley criteria, Ahmed would have qualified for a place.

The family live in Montrose Avenue, near the school and Ahmed’s older brother is already a pupil there.

Mr Faizel said his wife, who is disabled, would have problems getting the boys and their younger sister to three different schools.

Ahmed also has walking difficulties.

But the chief adjudicator’s investigation specifically excluded admissions to academies.

A council spokesman said: “We will be considering the adjudicator's recommendations very carefully in consultation with the Bexley school admissions forum, which includes school representatives.