Several schools in London and other parts of England will delay their opening on Monday morning to allow students and staff who stayed up to watch England's World Cup round of 16 match against Mexico at 1am BST to get extra rest. The match, kicking off at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, is one of the tournament's most anticipated games, following England's dramatic victory over DR Congo on Wednesday, where Harry Kane scored twice after conceding the opening goal.
Schools Adjust Schedules
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had previously suggested children could manage to get to school on time even if they stayed up to watch the game. However, two schools in Sutton, South London, have confirmed late openings. Oaks Park High School in Carshalton told parents in a letter that pupils should arrive at 9:45am, stating: "We hope these arrangements strike the right balance between recognising what is likely to be a memorable sporting occasion and ensuring that students continue to benefit from being in school." The school also encouraged children to rest before the match, noting that staying awake all night would "likely leave them extremely tired."
Cheam High School in the same borough will start at 10am. The headteacher wrote: "We would like to give our students and staff the opportunity to watch the match without worrying about getting up so early." Elsewhere, Annfield Plain Infant School in Stanley, County Durham, will open at 10am instead of 9am, and St Patrick's RC High School in Salford will not start lessons until 10am, though the school opens at 8:30am as usual. Similar measures have been reported at Hill Avenue Academy in Wolverhampton and Castle Hill Primary School in Basingstoke.
Other Accommodations and Challenges
Some schools are taking different approaches, such as showing match highlights to pupils in the morning so they do not feel left out. The 1am kick-off has posed challenges for pubs benefiting from World Cup screenings, and for other institutions across the country.
On Saturday, England received a hostile welcome upon arriving at their Mexico City hotel. Hundreds of fans booed and chanted "Mexico" as the team bus arrived, despite England's efforts to keep their location undisclosed. Mexican supporters had previously used loudspeakers, horns, and motorcycles to disturb Ecuador's players before their last-32 tie, which Mexico won 2-0 on Wednesday night.
Weather concerns have sparked speculation that the match could be brought forward, but both England and Mexico opposed rescheduling less than 48 hours before kick-off. England also faces altitude challenges at the Azteca, which sits more than 2,000 metres above sea level, requiring players to adapt to lower oxygen levels. Mexico has a formidable record at the stadium, losing only twice in 89 matches (winning 70 and drawing 17) and remaining unbeaten in 10 World Cup games there.
