EURO 2016 - should children watch Eng vs Wales at school

[OX3Mum]

My football loving kids are distraught that their primary school isn't showing the England vs Wales Euro 2016 match this Thursday at 2pm - apparently for 'technical reasons'. Are any other primary schools showing it /letting kids go home early - or are there going to be loads of kids going home sick this Thursday lunchtime...?

MrsFizzy wondering if our DC go to the same school. My kids school is also showing it and my eldest will miss the first half due to a class trip. They are also doing some other cultural activity for those uninterested.

It's only a group game, it's only football - I think they should watch it on replay/in their own time!

I also agree with Sarah.

If it was the final I could see it as "historic". The group stage is hardly historic. Parents could record it and they could watch when they get home from school.

Not a mention of it from our primary school.

It will be on at work but I'm really not interested.

My DD's school (primary) sent a text this afternoon saying that if your child is passionate about football, you can collect them at 1.30pm so they can watch the match.

I'm pretty surprised, and annoyed, about what message that sends, on so many levels. Maybe I should be pleased that at least they are not showing it at school? Suspect this is everything about the school maintaining good levels of unauthorised absence - since some people are going to be off anyway, let's just authorise that in advance rather than have it affect our unauthorised absence score.

Optional at our school. On in the shall and children can opt in, or go elsewhere for some other activities - it is in assembly and play time for us, so no specific learning time being missed.

A Y6 child I spoke to today is upset because they are having almost compulsory watching of the match tomorrow, apparently it's educational. Her problem is not that she doesn't like football - she does - but that she is from another country and isn't allowed to miss lessons when her country's team is playing. Schools with plenty of children from other countries should be a bit more aware of this I would have thought.

Ours are missing a lesson and a bit if they choose to watch. Then they can stay back and watch the end. I know from experience that if we say no, half the school will either not come in, or will disappear at lunchtime through the fire doors.

It's also done wonders for staff morale and stops the disruption of lessons as students and staff check their phones for updates.

It has split the kids three ways - diehards who are staying to the end, halfway-ers who are staying til 3.15 and going and don't cares who are working through the afternoon and then heading home as normal. It's once every two years at most, and buys us a lot of goodwill.

But this is the country she lives in? I'm half Swedish but I don't expect my children to be able to watch Sweden play?

How can a football match ever be historic? Any football match?

It's just football. It doesn't affect history.

I mean, if you think a football match can be historic then you really think anything at all can be historic. This is an historic post I am typing right now. Because as soon as I finish, it will be part of history.

Of course they should, we watched it at school.

It's history.

Any one who says it's just a game, well yes, it is, but for footbal fans it's a big day.

What a weird, unpleasant post.

Oh fuck off Sarah you massive bore.

Aren't you delightful.

What about 'historic' hockey games or cricket or other such events.

They are important to followers of those sports. Are schools going to give children time off to watch those to? Otherwise no it isn't fair.

I apologise for swearing, it was uncalled for.

Unfortunately hockey and cricket aren't really comparable.

Especially for the Welsh, it's massive.

It's silly to minimise it, it's a massive part of British culture and this two of our countries coming together.

Ours sent a text out saying attendance tomorrow is still compulsory regardless of the football.. I think it's a poor choice for schools to offer half days. Screening in school is a good compromise and shows wiling.

I think it is symptomatic of today's society that occasions like a football match in the first rounds of a tournament are hyped and bigged up to seem ore important than they are. This wouldn't have happened 20 years ago.

There's more trouble over in Lille the police have had to use tear gas again. Why do football fans have to use violence?

They're not football fans, they're just thugs, you never see violence in league games.

Optional at our school also. Showing it in the hall and the children can watch it if they want to. If not normal lessons are on. Totally happy with that and my boys are very excited.

Don't you?

A few English half witted thugs and some frankly scary and crazy Russians.

Not "football fans".

My school (teaching) is showing it. Parents have been informed and they have to have parental permission.

It's a 'one-off'. It's 2pm, it's summer, five weeks til the end of the academic year, all tests and assessments completed, an hour out of the day WILL NOT HURT THEIR EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL.

TBH I think it was offered in school so parents could watch it at home and pick their children up at the end! We'd get a LOT of late parents, disgruntled parents and it is better to keep the peace - at least in our school.

Well, we watched and had a fab time. Kids and staff all involved together, lots of singing and collective responses. About a third of the school stayed back to watch the end, and when that second goal went in it was brilliant.