English schools delay start times for England-Mexico match

Several schools across England are adjusting their start times on Monday, July 6, to allow students to watch the national team's World Cup knockout match against Mexico, which kicks off at 1 a.m. local time. The move follows a public appeal from England manager Thomas Tuchel for flexibility so children can support the team.

Schools in London, the Midlands, Salford, County Durham, and other areas have announced delayed openings or extended registration periods. In Sutton, south London, Oaks Park High School will start at 9:45 a.m., while its sister school, Cheam High School, will begin at 10 a.m. Annfield Plain Infant School in County Durham will keep its register open until 10 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. In Stoke-on-Trent, Sneyd Green's Excel Academy told students they may arrive at 11 a.m., and Bentilee and Discovery Academy set an 11 a.m. arrival time. Red Hall Primary School in Dudley said children arriving by 10:30 a.m. would not be marked late.

Headteachers cited student well-being and reducing family pressure as reasons for the adjustments. Daniel Steventon, headteacher of Hill Avenue Academy in Wolverhampton, said a later start demonstrates "understanding and flexibility" and...