While agreeing with selective schools, I must complain about the unfair admissions criteria for girls in the borough. For girls achieving the pass-mark, their examination score does not come into play until the fourth criteria. First, they take siblings. As all the girls have worked hard in a selective exam why should those who do not have sisters at the school be put at a disadvantage?

Next come "medical reasons," followed by "other educational grounds eg musical ability."

Finally, the top 40 girls in order of merit are offered a place. Then the list is split into two - the 80 per cent list (girls living within a 5.25km radius of a point midway between Wallington High and Nonsuch High) and the 20 per cent list (those living within a 5km radius of the front door of the school excluding those in the 80 per cent list). The next 10 highest scores may all be in the 20 per cent, but they will not be offered a place until 80 per cent of remaining places are filled. The waiting lists(s) are the same - it's not how high the score but which list you are on.

All of these girls deserve to be treated equally on merit. With the exception of medical reasons, boys are offered places in rank order of test scores. We should not look at "who they are" or "where they are" but at their test score.

My daughter passed but did not get a place at Nonsuch.

The school says the policy has been approved by the Secretary of State for Education and that they are legally bound to abide by it. Imagine a year when 50 per cent of the intake are siblings (75), add 10 per cent musical (15) and maybe five medical reasons. There are 95 places out of 150 already filled.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

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