And without prejudging the outcome of Lord Dearing's labours, the evidence from the grassroots is that the potential is considerable. Across the country, Church Schools are extremely popular amongst parents and pupils from a wide variety of backgrounds and beliefs. In many cases they are hailed as beacons of excellence by the education authorities. Many are heavily oversubscribed. But we have a duty to respond.
Provision is patchy-especially in secondary education.
It cannot be right, and nor should we be satisfied with, the present situation where one in five children can attend a Church of England Primary School whilst only one in twenty can make that choice at a Secondary level. Another priority area for Lord Dearing's Review is the future development of our partnership with the State. Here I must pay tribute to the way in which the Government has been prepared to listen to our views and our concerns, and in many cases to respond positively to them. I look forward to what the Minister has to say later this morning. It was the present Secretary of State after all who described the Church as a 'major partner with Government in transforming society'.