Most schools have an affiliation to the Anglican (Church of England) or Catholic church and in most cases there is a chapel (small private church) on the school grounds where pupils are expected to attend religious services two or three times per week. Children who are practicing members of another religion (e.g. Muslims, Jews) may ask to be excused attendance at religious services, but atheists and agnostics are not exempt.
England is a secular society and regular attendance at church services does not play a major part in the lives of the majority of the population. However schools feel that church services and religious instruction lessons distill in the children broad moral values - the difference between right and wrong, consideration for the welfare of others etc.
The school chapel often offers the largest space where the whole school can meet and assemblies are often held there. These are not religious occasions, but a chance for the Head to address all pupils and staff on matters of general interest and related to the smooth administration of the school
