The English education system developed in partnership with the mainstream Christian churches, whose involvement in education pre-dates that of the state and which focused on providing education for the poor. Since 1944 faith communities have been able to apply to set up schools in the state sector in response to demand from parents. Today around a third of maintained schools have a religious character and are popularly known as faith schools. In the publication The Coalition: our programme for government this Government stated that they want to ensure all new academies follow an inclusive admissions policy. They will work with faith groups to enable more faith schools and facilitate inclusive admissions policies in as many of these schools as possible.