Schools Adjust Start Times Following England vs Mexico World Cup Match
Kelly Wall values spending family time with her children during the World Cup.
Several primary and secondary schools in regions including London, Salford, the Midlands, and County Durham have informed the BBC that they plan to open later on Monday morning following England's last 16 World Cup match against Mexico, which kicks off at 01:00 BST. These schools are adjusting their start times to approximately 10:00, with headteachers stating that this measure aims to reduce pressure on parents.
The match could conclude as late as 04:00 if it proceeds to penalties.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has urged schools to provide flexibility for students wishing to stay up late, stating,
"let them watch,"while the government maintains that children should still attend school on Monday.
Hill Avenue Academy in Wolverhampton is among the primary schools delaying opening until 10:00, resulting in pupils starting an hour and a half later than usual. The school implemented a similar policy for England's late-night group stage matches.
"Why wouldn't we want our children to be passionate about supporting their country during the World Cup?"said headteacher Daniel Steventon.
"We have told the parents - enjoy the game, as we recognise that a late-night match could leave parents and children tired, making the usual school morning stressful,"he added.
"A later start reduces that pressure."
Steventon believes the later start demonstrates "understanding and flexibility" and has received an "influx of emails" from parents welcoming the initiative as a "really lovely idea."
Parental Support for Late Starts
Kelly Wall, a parent, appreciates the school's late openings for all of England's late-night matches and the red, white, and blue themed non-uniform days, noting a positive impact on her two young children.
"We've been able to sit and watch it together as a family,"she said.
"We've been able to do it because of these late starts."
Wall, 34, who works full-time, explained,
"We're not a sporty family but because there's such a buzz and a hype around it at school, my little boy has been coming home saying 'can we watch the football'... he's brought into the house."
"I'm like 'yes, we can watch the football' and there's less pressure then to get them to school for the 8.20am opening.
We don't want late marks and we don't want absences - he struggles if he's tired and going into school, so it's been really nice for us."
Wall will attend work in the morning, with her mother managing childcare until the children need to be at school.
Castle Hill Primary School in Basingstoke reportedly also opened late the day after England's evening group stage matches.
Controversy Over Late School Starts
However, the late starts have sparked controversy among some parents, who have criticized the idea on social media.
One parent on X stated they would allow their children to watch the match live but expected them to be ready for school the next morning, adding,
"What's the big deal? The recent thunderstorms woke them up at 2am and kept them awake for hours and they were fine the next day going to school."
England's World Cup Prospects and School Responses
England will be eliminated from the World Cup if they lose the match, but many remain hopeful for a result similar to the team's last-minute win against the Democratic Republic of Congo last week, or ideally a less tense victory.
Annfield Plain Infant School in Stanley, County Durham, is another school responding to Tuchel's call for leniency by keeping its register open an hour later until 10:00 on Monday.
"Mr Tuchel gave us a call to make an attendance request for Monday 6th July,"the school joked.
"He then put big Harry Kane on the phone, we couldn't say no... It's coming home!"
Government Position on School Attendance
The government’s stance on the matter appears less definitive. While Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has permitted pubs in England to remain open until 05:00 for the match, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has not explicitly endorsed late school openings.
Phillipson stated she is
"not going to seek to control what schools are doing"but emphasized that it is
"important"for pupils to attend school on Monday.
"It's a late game, but children can be in school the next day,"she added.
Balancing Enjoyment and Attendance
In the absence of a clear government directive, schools opting for late openings argue they are balancing enjoyment of the event with attendance requirements.
At many schools, including Hill Avenue Academy, teachers still arrive at the usual time to run breakfast clubs and support students who wish to attend earlier.
Conversely, some schools plan to mark the occasion without delaying opening times.
Caroline Glennon, headteacher at St Patrick's CE Primary Academy in Solihull, said her school will show highlights or the full match on Monday morning for her "World Cup mad" students.
She understands why some schools are allowing later arrivals and expects some children to have stayed up to watch the game.
"I respect the decision that's made. We're not closed on Monday, but it's a national thing. It comes round every four years, so I have to respect what the children and the parents do."
Glennon added that if England advance further in the competition, she will consider potential delays or closures for future matches.
Alistair Wilson, deputy headteacher at Whipton Barton Federation Primary School in Exeter, Devon, will open at the normal time but plans a non-uniform day and will show match highlights in classrooms after breakfast, accompanied by football-themed activities.
"It'll be a wonderful way to celebrate the day, World Cup fever has definitely hit them,"Wilson said.
Advice to Students and Social Media Reactions
Even at schools opening late, teachers advise students to get adequate rest.
Oaks Park High School, a secondary school in Carshalton, south London, opening at 09:45, informed parents in a letter that it is
"strongly"encouraged that students get some sleep before the game to avoid being
"extremely tired."
On social media, including teacher and podcaster Lee Parkinson, some have called for "common sense" leniency regarding attendance figures on Monday.
Others note that many schools nationwide were already closed for multiple days during the recent heatwave, which disrupted learning.
Community Sentiment in Wolverhampton
Back in Wolverhampton, Kelly Wall has observed positive conversations at the school gates.
She acknowledges the perspective of critics but emphasizes,
"It's so rare that we get to have these special moments with the kids, because our lives are always so busy.
Really, let the children join in, watch the game and let them have a bit of family time."
