Schools allow late arrival for students after England’s World Cup clash
School pupils will be permitted to arrive a couple of hours late for school following England’s last-16 World Cup clash against Mexico, reports BritPanorama.
Several institutions have confirmed that students can arrive late without penalty, although attendance is still expected. The decision comes after England manager Thomas Tuchel encouraged parents to allow their children to stay home on Monday night to watch the match.
Three primary schools in County Durham—Greenland, Bloemfontein, and Burnhope—have announced that pupils can arrive anytime before 10am on Monday and still receive their attendance mark. The schools, operating under the same multi-academy trust, expressed on social media their desire to allow families to enjoy the occasion without the pressure of an early school run.
Purwell Primary School in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, will keep registers open until 10:30am, acknowledging that some families may experience a later night. The school stated on Facebook: “While it is unlikely that many primary-aged children will stay up to watch the game, we appreciate that some families may have a later night than usual.”
Despite some schools offering this flexibility, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has emphasized that pupils should still attend school, even with the match starting at 1am. Phillipson stated on Times Radio: “Parents will make decisions about whether their children stay up, how they manage bedtime. I’m not going to insert myself into a discussion amongst families about how they do that. But I do hope children are back in school on the Monday.”
Meanwhile, Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council for the Liberal Democrats, has called on local schools to consider starting at lunchtime to permit young fans the chance to recover after the game. However, Labour councillor James Clayton expressed his disagreement, citing the needs of his daughter with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). He noted the importance of a structured sleep schedule and the necessity for breakfast club services, saying, “We all love the big sports tournaments to support our nation, but unfortunately the world doesn’t stop, so we have to find ways to accommodate around it.”
Some schools have chosen alternative methods instead of modifying start times. London Colney Primary School plans to broadcast a complete replay of the match at 9am, while Smith’s Wood Primary in the West Midlands will show highlights during assembly. Q3 Academy Langley in Oldbury has declined parental requests to delay opening but will host a special World Cup breakfast for students.
The situation highlights a broader discussion about the balance between educational responsibilities and the joy of national sporting events, reflecting how deeply intertwined sport and community life remain.
