Other faith schools' admissions policies are also under scrutiny

Barnet Council had said that Hasmonean Primary was one of 38 schools in its area that were under investigation.

Government ministers say a random check indicated "a significant minority" of schools have been breaking the law.

Hasmonean said the �50 was a deposit towards voluntary contributions for extra-curricular Jewish studies.

In a statement, it said that "historically but incorrectly" this had been shown on the application form as an admission fee.

Extended day

The school added: "The cheque is not usually banked and is returned if a child is not successful in gaining a place and is offset from the first term's voluntary contribution to the Jewish Studies.

"The deposit has no bearing on consideration of acceptance to the school.

"The school is an Orthodox Jewish Voluntary Aided School, where approximately 38% of the extended day is spent in Jewish Studies.

"Voluntary contributions are sought from the parents as the monies from the local authority cover the secular curriculum.

The new, tougher admissions code came into practice in February last year.

Compliance

Ministers asked officials to make the compliance checks.

Manchester, Northamptonshire and Barnet were chosen simply as being representative of a metropolitan authority, a shire county and a London borough - and were areas where there had not been objections to admissions policies.

"We have no reason to think that these areas are any different from any other authorities around the country," said the Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls.

The large majority of schools appeared to be complying.

"However, a significant minority of schools in our sample appear not to be compliant with the code, of which a disproportionate number are voluntary aided or foundation schools."

In Manchester 18 schools are under scrutiny, 12 primary and six secondary. It also said none of the issues raised involved financial contributions.

Instead the problems identified involved not giving sufficient priority to looked-after children, making the signing of home-school agreements a mandatory part of admissions and inappropriate use of the siblings rule.

Northamptonshire has denied that any of its schools were charging parents, and said breaches of the admissions code were minor technical ones.