Schools right across England have decided to let pupils start school a little later following the Euro 2020 final.
With Gareth’s Southgate’s Three Lions squad having triumphantly defeated Denmark 2-1 to advance to the final of European football’s flagship tournament, all eyes of all ages are set to be on Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
This could truly be a moment remembered history.
The match is set to kick off at 8pm, and it’s thought that play could be taken all the way up to 11:15pm at the latest should it go to extra time and penalties – and that’s before the celebrations commence.
Understandably, for many of the youngest football fans, this could be quite the late night.
So it’s a good job that local schools in the North West and across the country have decided to make things a little easier by allowing pupils staying up to watch the match come into school later the next morning.
Headteachers have been offering kids the optional start time of 10.30am, with some adding that they would rather have a late start “than an absence”.
Headteachers have been offering kids the optional start time of 10.30am / Credit: UEFA Euro 2020 / England
Pupils at Alexandra Park Primary School in Edgeley, Stockport are just one of the local institutions that have been told they can head into school at 10.30am on Monday to allow them to can properly enjoy Sunday night’s match.
Headteacher Phil Brooke said it’s been a tough year for pupils, parents and teachers, adding: “My thinking is just that I want the children to have a great night and not have to worry about school in the morning,”
“If they can have a fantastic memory of the night, that’s the important thing,” he told the MEN.
Coates Lane Primary School in Barnoldswick, Lancashire is also giving parents the option to let kids come in at 10.30am, announcing on Facebook that: “We would rather have children rested and in school ready to learn rather than absent all day or grumpy.”
Gisburn Road Community Primary School, also in Barnoldswick, has too given the green light for a lie-in, and thanked a now-viral decision by Rossmere Primary School in Hartlepool for the idea.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Rossmere Primary School told parents the Euro 2020 final was one of “national pride” and the “job of schools is to give children the best experiences possible”, adding: “It’s 55 years since England reached a major football final so let them watch, talk about the importance of the National Anthem, talk about pride and resilience and possibly disappointment.
The school will still open at 8.40am on Monday morning – but those arriving up to 10.30am will not be marked as late or miss lessons.
It is expected that many other schools across the country will adopt a similar approach.
The decision taken by such schools to allow pupils to come in at a later time on Monday morning comes after an online petition calling for an extra Bank Holiday in the event that England clinch the Euro 2020 victory has seen over 100,000 people put their names to it.
When asked about the prospect yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ruled out the idea saying: “I think that would be tempting fate – let’s see what happens.”
He urged the nation to support the Three Lions “enthusiastically, but in a responsible way”.
Many businesses have also offered workers a late start or the whole day off, so that football fans can nurse their hangovers – with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) saying that the game would be a “historic moment” for the country.
“Bosses should talk to their staff about flexible working arrangements ahead of Monday morning – perhaps allowing them to start later and claim back their time afterwards.” said Frances O’Grady, the TUC’s General Secretary.
“Many of them will want to watch the match, and they should be able to – either at work or by finishing early and making up the time,” she concluded.
Major Co-op Live concert cancelled with fans already inside venue
Daisy Jackson
Major Co-op Live gig Jeff Lynne’s ELO has been cancelled this evening – after fans had already entered the venue.
Jeff Lynne’s ELO were set to perform the second of two nights at the huge Manchester venue tonight, as part of their final UK tour.
The Over and Out Tour should have been taking place on both the 9 and 10 July before heading to London’s BST Hyde Park Festival on Sunday.
But the show has been cancelled minutes before the legendary band were due to take to the stage.
Fans had already taken their seats inside the massive Co-op Live Arena when the news broke that the gig would not be able to take place ‘due to illness’.
77-year-old Jeff Lynne himself, who recently broke his hand in an accident, is said to be ‘devastated’ that he is unable to perform.
Jeff Lynne’s ELO has been cancelled at Co-op Live
A statement from the band said: “Unfortunately due to illness tonight’s (Thursday 10th July 2025) scheduled performance of Jeff Lynne’s ELO at the Co-Op Live will not be going ahead.
“Jeff is devastated he cannot perform this evening.
“More information will become available as soon as possible. For refunds please go to your point of purchase.”
According to fans, audiences inside Co-op Live were told the show was cancelled with just 45 minutes to go.
One person wrote: “The concert that never was. Cancelled with 45mins to go. Get well soon Jeff Lynne.”
Literally mins after this picture was taken Jeff Lynn cancelled 😞 @JeffLynnesELO Broke his hand a few days ago and has played the best he can and well done to you ! But then decides to cancel 2nd night n Manchester very last minute ! But it’s ok just ask for a refund !!! 😡 pic.twitter.com/wv1JfWPwk5
Andy Burnham reveals plans to build underground tram and train line in Manchester by 2050
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has announced some ambitious long-term plans to build an underground tram and train line in Manchester.
As Greater Manchester sets its sights on a new era of economic growth, on the way to becoming a ‘second city’ to rival any other on the planet by 2050, Mayor Andy Burnham shared the city region’s blueprint for a ‘greener, fairer future’ this week – with underground transport plans being right the heart of it.
Mr Burnham says his vision for the next decade is to create a ‘thriving’ city region where everyone can ‘live a good life’.
Andy Burnham reveals plans to build an underground tram and train line in Manchester / Credit: TfGM
But it’s public transport where it seems some of the most significant changes are set to be made before 2050 arrives.
The Mayor revealed plans for new bus routes, tramlines, and train stations to connect ‘thriving communities’ across the city region with an integrated lower-cost transport system that’ll help more people get out and access new opportunities.
Construction of a tram stop to service new homes at Victoria North will also start by 2028, it has been confirmed, while work to bring Metrolink to Stockport – which has already been announced to huge support – will begin by 2030.
Two commuter rail lines will join the Bee Network next December as well, with another six joining by 2028.
GM is growing fast.
We will expand @BeeNetwork over the next decade to meet the needs of our bigger economy.
BUT
There’s a limit to what we can do on a congested surface.
It’s why I am asking TfGM to start planning for an underground for GM around a remodelled Piccadilly. pic.twitter.com/k2ozNWw6Wj
The headline-grabbing announcement, though, has to be that Mr Burnham has also announced plans to unlock ‘transformative’ investment in transport infrastructure, so that by 2050, Manchester Piccadilly has an underground tram and train station with a high-speed rail link to Liverpool.
He’s also looking to boost regeneration of the surrounding area, effectively making it ‘the Kings Cross of the North’.
“We’re the UK’s fastest growing economy and stand on the cusp of what I believe could be our best decade since the Victorian era,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham, “and our task for the next decade is to build a platform for success for all our residents.
“Our vision is ambitious, but in my eight years as Mayor, I’ve learned that, when we pull together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
“There’s a long and proud tradition of collaboration in Greater Manchester. Devolution has turbocharged that and now we’re ready to deliver a new model of growth where no one is left behind.”