Access to education has changed as policy has changed.

Admissions policies fit the education policy of the time.

Involvement of NGOs changes over time.

Vocational education experiences reform.

Religion:
Important historically, pre-1870 provision for poor.
+ = better exam results
- = segregates students, may impact on communities

Ability:
Butler Act introduced this.
+ = schooling suited to needs/abilities of students
- = tests can benefit middle-class children, tutoring etc.

Catchment:
COMPREHENSIVISATION
+ =equal access to education, linked closely to community
- = not all schools provide equal quality edu. 'Selection by mortgage' Gibbons & Machin 2006

Parental choice:
1980s and parent power
+ = empowered parents and marketised edu.
- = social bias, middle-class better placed to make informed decisions.

Banding:
Aptitude tests - all involved take equal numbers of high, middle, low ability students.
+ = truly comprehensive
- = parents lack choice, dislike this approach and may withdraw from process completely.