Miltoncross students to watch England v Wales Euro 2016 clash together - but most city pupils will miss out

But it appears that most other pupils around the city will miss out in the much-anticipated clash with Wales.

The game - England’s second in the tournament after an opener against Russia on Saturday night - kicks off before school kicks out next Thursday.

Miltoncross head teacher Fiona Calderbank said children would be allowed to go straight to their tutor groups after lunch so that they can watch the England match, which starts at 2pm.

She said: ‘We recognise the importance of football and the tournament across our community.

‘We made the groups mixed age because we believe it will be a good opportunity to foster a house and community spirit and we are linking the tournament to our values that we work on in school, including teamwork and respect.’

She added, ‘The children are looking forward to supporting not just England but many of the teams in the tournament as we have a diverse school population.’

But students at other senior schools in the city contacted by The News will be expected to attend lessons as usual as the match kicks off.

Admiral Lord Nelson, Charter Academy, Portsmouth Academy for Girls, King Richard, Mayfield, Priory, Springfield and St Edmund’s all said that they had no plans to allow children to watch the game or leave early.

Meanwhile pupils at another Hampshire school will now no longer be allowed to leave early to watch the game.

Students at Oasis Academy in Southampton had been told they could leave before 1pm Thursday to watch the England-Wales game.

But the school’s head teacher has announced a U-turn after some parents complained that it was hypocritical to allow children out of school at a time when parents are being taken to court over term-time holidays.

Instead, the school plans to show the match during the last hour of the school day.