Several schools across the UK have confirmed they will let students arrive late on Monday morning to allow them to stay up and watch the England vs Mexico World Cup match. The Three Lions face the hosts at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca with a 1am UK kick-off time.
Schools Adjust Start Times for World Cup
The kick-off time has been thrown into doubt after reports suggested the game could be moved forward due to lightning being forecast at the stadium. Despite this, many schools are making accommodations for students who want to watch the match live.
Some schools are offering breakfast and replay screenings before the school day begins. The National Education Union (NEU) has supported the flexible start times for Monday morning.
NEU and England Manager Back Flexible Starts
NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said the match is “an important event in our calendar” and added that it would be good if as many young people as possible could watch the match. England manager Thomas Tuchel also urged parents to let their kids watch the game. He said: “Write an excuse for school and let them watch football. They have so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch, there will be a big, big match in four days, and we need the support of everyone and especially of the children.”
Full List of Schools Allowing Late Arrivals
Schools that have confirmed they will let students arrive late include:
- Purwell Primary School (Hitchin, Hertfordshire) – registers will remain open until 10.30am.
- Castle Hill Primary School (Basingstoke, Hampshire) – students can arrive from 9.30am instead of the usual 8.35am start.
- Greenland Primary School (County Durham) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am.
- Bloemfontein Primary School (County Durham) – registers will remain open until 10am.
- Burnhope Primary School (County Durham) – pupils will be able to arrive up until 10am.
- Collierley Nursery and Primary School (County Durham) – registers will remain open until 10am.
- Annfield Plain Infant School (County Durham) – students will not be marked late up until 10am.
- Newton Hall Infants’ School (County Durham) – has relaxed its attendance policy for Monday morning.
- East Stanley School (County Durham) – has relaxed its attendance policy for Monday morning.
- Berwick Hills Primary School (Middlesborough) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am.
- Red Hall Primary School (Dudley) – registers will remain open until 10.30am.
- Excel Academy (Stoke-on-Trent) – students can arrive any time until 11am.
- Shadsworth Junior School (Blackburn) – students can arrive any time until 11am without being marked late.
- Hill Avenue Academy (Wolverhampton) – registers will be open until 10am.
- Barrowford Primary School (Barrowford) – will “leave an open register so children can come in later”.
- Darwen Vale High School (Darwen) – students can arrive at the later time of 9am.
- Our Lady and St John Roman Catholic High School (Blackburn) – students can arrive any time until 10am.
England beat Congo DR in their last match and will be looking to secure a win against Mexico.
