Leaders at Bolton St Catherine’s Academy said they recognize the “importance for our students” of watching England play Mexico.
(Image: Bolton St Catherine’s Academy)
Children at a Bolton school will be allowed to arrive 90 minutes late to class on Monday if they stay up late to watch England’s early football match with Mexico.
Principals at Bolton St Catherine’s Academy (BSCA), which runs both a secondary and primary school on the Stitch Mi Lane site in Harwood, say they want to give families the opportunity to watch a night match together.
Students in all year groups can arrive at 10am on Monday 6 July following the England v Mexico kick-off at 1am. If the round of 16 game goes to extra time and penalties, the match will likely not end until around 4am.
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In a letter to parents, secondary school headteacher Ryan Mallett and primary school headteacher Gareth Watson said the school had “high standards of attendance and punctuality”.
However, teachers added that they “also recognize the importance of our students being able to watch the England match and celebrate with their families.” The letter said: “For this reason, on Monday 6 July we will be offering pupils in all year groups a delayed start at 10am.”
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Parents and guardians who need their child to be at school at the normal start time of 8:35 a.m. can come in then and start work as usual. The school said pupils should use their normal entrance on arrival, with the Newby Road secondary gate opening from 9.45am.
The schools educate approximately 1,020 boys and girls aged three to 16, including nurseries, primary and secondary schools.
The one-off change to the hours comes after England coach Thomas Tuchel said parents should “write an excuse for going to school and let them watch” as England’s march to the play-offs continues.
The German coach spoke after the Three Lions’ 2-1 win over DR Congo on Wednesday.
He said: “There are so many schools to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch.”