Poorer children 'to get priority for school places'

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Education Secretary Michael Gove is understood to have asked officials to "examine the feasibility" of allowing new "free schools" and academies to use the criterion for admissions.

Currently, many parents pay inflated property prices to ensure they are within catchment areas for the best schools, leaving those who cannot afford to move without access.

A source close to Mr Gove said social mobility had "gone backwards" under Labour.

"The central aim of the Government's education policy is making opportunity more equal," they said.

"As part of our commitment to helping every child do better we're introducing a pupil premium - which will mean more cash for the poorest children in all our schools.

"And we're exploring how schools which wish to target their efforts on helping the poorest can be helped."

It is not clear whether only poorer children living within catchment areas would be in line for the preferential treatment.

The idea would complement the "pupil premium" scheme which will see up to £2,000 of extra funding for each child at a school who is eligible for free meals.