LOCAL authorities will still control school admissions so that they cannot favour the brightest pupils if radical education reforms are given the thumbs up by MPs.

The admission from Education Secretary Ruth Kelly came after many people feared less academic students would struggle to find places in schools.

And Ms Kelly has also told MPs in a letter that the Government's code on admissions policy will be given legal force and parental interviews for selection will be banned.

But teaching union leaders in Swindon are not convinced the reforms will benefit all pupils.

In the Government's education white paper there are plans to make every school a trust school removing all local authority control and providing more parental choice.

Although Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended the reforms, Ms Kelly has backtracked on some ideas, fearing many MPs would not vote for them.

She said the Bill would translate into law fair admissions promised in the White Paper so no trust school or any other maintained school can undertake any further selection by academic ability.

Local authorities will not be able to stop popular schools expanding, but Ms Kelly said a school adjudicator would have to take account of fair access and the local authorities' strategic plans in settling disputes.

When setting up schools, local councils will be able to set out the communities they should serve.

Phil Baker, Swindon branch secretary of teaching union ATL, said: "I acknowledge the Government's efforts to improve the white paper but I do not believe they fully understand the concerns of many people that schools in essence will become selective and as a result many children from the poorer families will be excluded from them.

"Until the government brings all schools under local authority control and gives the local authority control over admission policies we will continue to have inequalities in education. The only reason schools would want their own admission policy is to keep those children out who they think will affect their league table results."

Dick Mattick, Swindon branch secretary of teaching union NASUWT, said: "This is a step in the right direction but I do feel the best admissions system is for a pupil living in a particular area to go to the school in that area.

"This cuts down on the amount of traffic and it also means there is a better spread of pupils between schools."

He added: "One thing that does worry me about the proposals is the idea of not having parental interviews."