An estimated 332,000 fewer children were present in schools across England on Monday morning as millions of families basked in the euphoria following England's thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico. The significant drop in attendance – a three percentage point decrease compared to the previous week – has sparked concerns about the impact of World Cup fever on school registers.
Figures from over 12,000 state schools via the Arbor management information system show that older pupils were disproportionately affected, with Year 9 students experiencing a reduction of over 10 percentage points in attendance, equating to around 66,000 fewer pupils. In contrast, Reception class attendance saw a more modest dip of 1.4 percentage points, affecting approximately 7,800 children.
While the Department for Education has yet to formally confirm these figures, data also reveals a near doubling of unauthorised absences – rising from 2.92% last week to 5.61% on Monday. This potentially translates to an additional 193,000 unauthorised absences nationwide.
Several schools took proactive steps to accommodate football fans, with some even adjusting their schedules. Annfield Plain Infant School in County Durham extended its registration period until 10am and reported 100% attendance, while Hill Avenue Academy Primary School in Wolverhampton adopted a 'soft start' and kept registers open later.
The Department for Education has taken a supportive stance, encouraging schools to integrate the excitement of the tournament into classroom activities. A spokesperson stated that the World Cup is uniting the nation and that schools are at the heart of this celebration, with opportunities to create lasting memories with friends.