The government has published new guidelines designed to help parents secure school places for their children.

The School Admissions Code of Practice requires schools and local education authorities in England to publish details - in plain English - of how they plan to allocate places to pupils from this autumn.

The aim is to remove some of the complexities from a system under which popular schools are often unable to meet the demand for places and have to turn potential pupils away.

Under laws passed by the previous government, parents are free to choose the school to which they wish to send their children - although there is no guarantee they will get a place.

Estelle Morris: "We are explicitly recognising the right of parents to send children to schools in other areas"

The School Standards Minister, Estelle Morris, said: "It is important that parents should have the clearest information about the admissions policies of different schools.

"Ensuring that each locality has a prospectus bringing together the details of different local schools will help parents to exercise their choice more easily."

The code also requires the setting up of "admissions forums" - made up of school and local education authority representatives - in each local authority area, to plan the allocation of school places.

And appeals panels will be appointed by the Department for Education and Employment to make final decisions in any disputes arising from decisions made by schools and education authorities.

"For the first time, parents will also be able to appeal to fully independent appeals panels where they are unhappy that their preference has not been met," said Ms Morris.

"Of course it is not and never has been possible for parents always to have their first choice of school, but new independent panels will put parents and admissions authorities on an equal footing."

The code is being published by the government following consultation with schools, local education authorities and parents' groups.