Conclusion
Current legislation supports the maintenance of the present proportion of church school pupil places. Changes in the methods of school funding and governance are likely to erode the historical distinction between aided and controlled status with many controlled schools operating increasingly like aided schools and some actually changing status. Diocesan Boards of Education are likely to find themselves having growing links with their controlled schools; links which in the past have often been somewhat tenuous. It is therefore the maps of overall school and pupil provision which are perhaps most significant for the Church of England.
Church schools are popular with parents, the sector as a whole is seen as doing well in test results, the political climate is not hostile to them and the recent changes in finance and structure offer the churches opportunities. In response to this climate, the Church of England has already launched a national campaign to increase the proportion of its secondary places. In terms of primary school distribution, given that the present baseline proportion of church school places is assured, then it will be the gaps which will be of most significance. Will the Roman Catholic Church be able to keep school place development apace with the continuing dispersal of the Roman Catholic population? Will the Church of England be willing and able to provide its national proportion of 17% of school primary places in areas of major population growth? These, along with the possible growth of other faith community schools, are the issues which may result in future changes to the current distribution patterns.