More than 300,000 pupils estimated absent from school after England World Cup win

About 332,000 fewer children were in school on Monday morning than a week earlier, according to initial figures, as attendance fell after England’s 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico.School registers were down more than three percentage points on last week, after England manager Thomas Tuchel advised parents to “write an excuse for school and let them watch”.Data collected at morning registration from more than 12,000 state schools in England showed attendance at 89.79%, compared with 93.09% last Monday, with absences higher among secondary pupils.Scaled up using Department for Education figures to match the total pupil population, the data suggests about 332,000 fewer children were in school than on the previous Monday. The estimate excludes pupils in years 11 and 13, most of whom have already left school after finishing their exams.The figures are yet to be confirmed by the Department for Education, but according to data collected in real time via Arbor management information system, which is used by over half of schools in England, unauthorised absence was nearly double, up from 2.92% last week to 5.61%. When compared to the national school population, that would equate to around 193,000 more unauthorised absences across England this Monday than last.The data suggests that older pupils were less likely to attend school on Monday morning. Year 9 attendance was down by more than 10 percentage points – equivalent to 66,000 fewer pupils. Meanwhile, reception attendance only dropped by 1.4 percentage points (around 7,800 pupils).A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The World Cup is bringing the whole country together, and schools are at the heart of that celebration. There’s no better place for children to share in the excitement, cheer together and create lasting memories with their friends.“It’s fantastic to see schools marking the occasion with screenings, football tournaments and other events – and great to know so many children came in today ready to be part of it all.“We encourage every school to bring the buzz of the tournament into the classroom, and every parent to make sure their child is in attendance to enjoy it.”Some schools adapted their timetables in anticipation of the England game, which had been scheduled to start at 1am on Monday but was put back an hour an hour because of adverse weather conditions in Mexico-city" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="1779" data-entity-type="location">Mexico City. Annfield Plain infant school in Stanley, County Durham, reported 100% attendance on Monday, thanks to a more relaxed registration, which remained open until 10am to give football-mad families more leeway.“It’s really worked for us,” said headteacher Martin Urwin. “Attendance is a really big priority for us.” The school opened as usual at 7.30am for a special World Cup themed breakfast, a rerun of the match was showing, and in the playground a couple of teachers organised a penalty shoot-out.Parents and children at Hill Avenue Academy primary school in Wolverhampton also benefited from a soft start, keeping the register open until 10am. “It’s been absolutely wonderful,” said headteacher and West Bromwich Albion fan Daniel Steventon.“There’s been a really fantastic buzz around school. There were children coming in the car park this morning singing ‘It’s coming home’. Everyone’s been in real high spirits today.“There’s just something magical about the World Cup, isn’t there? The nation and schools and everybody getting behind the national team.”Next week, if England get that far, he’s planning to take the speaker outside and play Wonderwall in the playground.