Thousands of faith schools could become academies, giving them stronger powers over their curriculum and funding, it was suggested today.

Up to seven in 10 Church of England schools could switch over the next five years, according to the Rt Rev John Pritchard, the Bishop of Oxford.

He told the Times Educational Supplement: “In the long run there will be a major shift to academies because it is what the Government is determined shall be. The local education authority is going to wither on the vine in many cases.

“We will be part of that whole movement but have to make sure there is still a family relationship (between schools) as we go through this process.

“It may be that there are schools that are traditionally outside the Church family that say you are providing the kind of thing we need, and they would want to relate to us in an affiliated way. It’s all to play for.”

As local authorities face funding cuts, the Church could also become more involved in providing a range of services to non-faith schools, as well as their own, Bishop John said.

Last month the Bishop, who is chairman of the Church of England’s board of education, said he wanted headteachers to reserve no more than 10 per cent of places for practising Anglicans.

The move could end parents attending church only to secure their child a school place.