Schools Accommodate Late-Night World Cup Match
Several schools across England have decided to let pupils arrive late on Monday after the Three Lions' World Cup decider against Mexico, which kicks off at 1am and is expected to finish around 3am. The move follows a call from England manager Thomas Tuchel, who urged parents to let their children stay up to watch the match.
Tuchel's Plea to Parents
Tuchel 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.'
List of Schools Offering Late Starts
The following schools have confirmed they will allow pupils to arrive later than usual:
- Purwell Primary School (Hitchin, Hertfordshire) – registers open until 10.30am
- Castle Hill Primary School (Basingstoke, Hampshire) – students can arrive from 9.30am
- Greenland Primary School (County Durham) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am
- Bloemfontein Primary School (County Durham) – registers open until 10am
- Burnhope Primary School (County Durham) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am
- Berwick Hills Primary School (Middlesbrough) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am
Alternative Arrangements
Some schools are taking a different approach. Malmesbury Primary School in Wiltshire will open earlier to screen a recording of the match and will serve breakfast to pupils.
Union Support
The National Education Union (NEU) has backed the plans. General secretary Daniel Kebede described the match as an 'important event in our calendar'.
Pub Opening Hours
Pubs are allowed to remain open until 5am for the match, but many have chosen not to. All but five Wetherspoons branches will close before kick-off. Tommy Higgs, co-owner of The Three Horseshoes pub in Witney, Oxfordshire, told LBC: 'We’re in a built-up community around here, and I think it’s just a little bit disrespectful for our locals to have that sort of noise at 5am. No one’s going to want to work until five in the morning. We’re not a nightclub, we’re a local pub in a small town, and I am not allowed to annoy my neighbours because I’ll be into holy hell with that.'
No Bank Holiday
The government has ruled out granting an extra bank holiday for fans to recover after the match.
