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Schools allowing pupils to turn up late after England v Mexico game in early hours
Home>News>UK News
Updated 10:15 3 Jul 2026 GMT+1Published 10:13 3 Jul 2026 GMT+1

Schools allowing pupils to turn up late after England v Mexico game in early hours

A number of schools have tweaked the timings of Monday's schedule after Thomas Tuchel told parents to 'let them watch' the late night game

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

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There's set to be a fair few bleary-eyed Brits on Monday (6 July) morning following England's World Cup clash against Mexico.

The match at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City is set to kick off at 1am UK time, so those who stay up to support the lads have got a long night ahead.

In a bid to quell the number of expected absences and late arrivals the following morning, several schools have announced that pupils will be allowed to have a lie in.

In honour of the game taking place in the early hours, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that pubs across England and Wales will be permitted to stay open until 5am.

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Bar staff might be pouring pints until this point depending on how the match plays out, as it could wrap up at around 4am if - god forbid - it goes to penalties.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has told parents that they should 'write an excuse for school' and allow their offspring to stay up past their usual bedtimes.

Pubs have been given permission to stay open extra late (SCOTT HEPPELL / AFP via Getty Images)
Pubs have been given permission to stay open extra late (SCOTT HEPPELL / AFP via Getty Images)

In wake of his team's 2-1 victory over DR Congo on Wednesday (1 July), he told reporters: "There's so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch."

It seems a few headteachers have got wind of Tuchel's advice, as a number of schools are taking a proactive approach to dealing with the number of students who might not make it on time on Monday.

Some have delayed the start time of the school day, while others are promising to show the England and Mexico match first thing.

Steve Heal, who is the headteacher of Malmesbury Church of England Primary School which is based in Wiltshire, is screening the game for school kids at 7am on Monday morning.

"I've asked parents not to tell their children the result before they arrive at school because we want everyone to experience the ups and downs together," he told the BBC.

"School really matters and attendance is so important, but we also know just how significant these international sporting events are for children."

He hopes to see all 420 pupils in class still - but said 'realistically', he believes only half will turn up.

Some schools are allowing pupils who stay up to watch England take on Mexico to have a lie in (Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Some schools are allowing pupils who stay up to watch England take on Mexico to have a lie in (Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

The match will play in full at London Colney Primary School from 9am in the school hall, while Smith's Wood Primary Academy in the West Midlands will show highlights from the high-stakes fixture during assembly.

Similar scenes are set to unfold at Plymouth's Elburton Primary School, where the match will be shown to young football fans from 7.40am.

A school in Exeter are also hoping to entice pupils on site by offering to allow them to wear football kits, while youngsters can also enter a World Cup raffle.

Whipton Barton Federation said in a Facebook post: "Every child in school on Monday will be automatically entered into our raffle to win one of two World Cup footballs."

Kids who attend schools in Greenland, Bloemfontein, and Burnhope - which are ran by the same multi-academy trust in County Durham - are being allowed to head into the classroom late on Monday.

Children can rock up any time before 10am and won't receive a late mark, as the school said it hopes families will have 'the opportunity to enjoy the occasion without worrying about the school run quite so early'.

Thomas Tuchel urged parents to let their kids stay up past their bedtimes to watch the game (Steph Chambers - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel urged parents to let their kids stay up past their bedtimes to watch the game (Steph Chambers - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Purwell Primary School in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, is adopting a similar approach and students will have until 10.30am to get to school.

"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," it said in a Facebook post.

Castle Hill Primary School in Hampshire is allowing students to arrive from 9.30am, County Durham's Greenland Primary School is giving kids a pass until 10am and registers will remain open until 10am at both Bloemfontein Primary School and Burnhope Primary School.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson encouraged parents to 'try and get our kids in on Monday', although she said she would not be 'making requests around bedtimes'.

A Downing Street spokesperson also said: "Parents will make their own decisions... We want everyone to enjoy the game, but children should be in school on Monday."

One Manchester-based boss has earned some serious brownie points from his employees after announcing he would be giving the entire workforce the day off due to England's late kick off.

Featured Image Credit: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images

Topics: Education, Football, World Cup, Sport

Olivia Burke
Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

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@livburke_

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