This is an exposition of the law of parental choice of school in Britain, and particularly in Scotland where parents have much greater freedom over where their children will be educated. Using new research and extensive statistical surveys the authors conclude that the introduction of parental choice in Scotland is best seen as a political rather than educational initiative. They argue that it has failed to strike the right balance between the interests of individual parents and the education authorities, and in the light of the Scottish experience, considers the implication of the 1988 legislation introduced in England and Wales.