Downing Street is considering plans to allow faith schools in England to select all pupils based on religion, repealing a 2010 cap. This cap requires faith-based free schools and academies to allocate half their places without considering applicants' faith, mainly in oversubscribed areas. The proposal to lift it, popular among many Conservative MPs, faces opposition from secular groups and educationalists. High-level discussions involve key figures like Will Tanner and James Nation, indicating the move could feature in the Conservative Party’s next manifesto or be enacted before the next general election. Education secretary Gillian Keegan supports the repeal, which particularly impacts Catholic schools. The policy was originally a compromise with the Liberal Democrats to support the free schools programme and prevent the rise of hardline religious schools. Conservative proponents argue that the cap has limited the growth of faith schools, especially Catholic ones.