Adrian Masters BBC Wales parliamentary correspondent

Ruth Kelly met Plaid Cymru MPs ahead of the crucial vote

They were Martin Caton, Paul Flynn and John Smith.

But Aberavon MP Hywel Francis who had signed an "alternative White Paper" in January voted with the government.

MPs voted by 458 votes to 115 in favour of plans to give English schools more control over admissions and budgets.

Mr Francis told BBC Wales the government had shifted towards those who opposed the original White Paper and that they had won "a good settlement".

Another opponent of the plans, Ynys Mon MP Albert Owen, abstained.

Ministers have offered safeguards on pupil admissions

He told BBC Wales he had not been convinced by the arguments, but did not vote against the bill because he said it did not materially affect Wales.

But if it had, he said he would probably have voted no.

Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan, who also signed the alternative White Paper, did not vote because she had been called home for family reasons.

Other Welsh signatories who failed to vote against the government on Wednesday were Martyn Jones, Nia Griffith, Dai Havard and Betty Williams.

Meanwhile, on the opposition benches, Plaid Cymru's three MPs, suddenly found themselves being wooed by the government.

They said they had managed to win important concessions from Education Secretary Ruth Kelly in return for their abstention in the vote.

Written assurance

Earlier they had more than an hour of Ruth Kelly's time despite her central role in one of the most politically difficult days for Tony Blair's government.

Plaid Cymru leader Elfyn Llwyd said Ms Kelly gave a written assurance that the bill's proposals would not have a negative impact on schools funding for Wales.

And he claimed she also gave assurances that there is a way for London's Welsh language school to become part of the maintained sector in England.

Currently it relies on donations and funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.