In the debate over Catholic school admissions, the term “admissions criteria” is used misleadingly. Catholic schools select by faith when they are over-subscribed. “over-subscription criteria” is a more accurate way of describing the procedures to which Michael Pyke objects (letter, 24 March).

The practice among state schools is to select by residence when they are over-subscribed, which leads to places at good state schools being in effect bought by well-heeled parents purchasing houses nearby. This excludes children from poorer families for socio-economic reasons, rather than religious ones.