Relocating parents may face new restrictions on getting their children into grammar schools.

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator, the government watchdog, has ruled that three grammar schools in Rugby, Warwickshire, must not accept pupils from Northamptonshire, on the grounds that doing so would undermine comprehensives in the county. 

Alan Walker, the adjudicator, judged that “more advantaged social groups are considerably better placed to succeed” because the grammar schools require potential pupils to take an entrance test, and because children based in Northamptonshire would have to travel at least 10 miles to school. 

Mr Walker's ruling does not set an official precedent, but Jack Rabinowicz, education specialist at Teacher Stern solicitors, said other adjudicators are likely to follow his example. 

This recent ruling will be seen by many to follow in the wake of comments made by Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary, who said last year, “I don’t like selection.” Mr Balls expressed the opinion that the grammar school system has allowed middle-class parents to obtain places for their children in good schools at the expense of those from poorer backgrounds.

A new code has already been approved, due to come into force from February, preventing schools from asking parents information that may reveal a child's background, such as occupation or marital status.