At last the Catholic Church admits the evidence exists that parents are seeking the Sacrament of Baptism as a cynical route to gain privileged access to some of the country’s best state schools.

A poll by the Sutton Trust asked parents what they think is the fairest way of handing out school places. A third of parents think a lottery is the fairest way of dealing with an oversubscribed faith school.

Government figures reveal that the percentage of successful appeals has risen. 20,540 appeals for school places were won by parents. This represents rise of very nearly one per cent to 36.3 % of all school admission appeals being successful.

Research suggests that wealthy middle class parents are using their dosh to diddle the system.