A school has incurred the wrath of parents after it threatened to give its pupils detention tomorrow if they are not at their desks by 8.30am despite thousands of other children across the country being told they can start late after England's Euro 2020 final.

Students at North Durham Academy in Stanley, County Durham were told to be at their desks bright and early on Monday morning with 'no exception' in a social media post which appears to have been deleted after it sparked a backlash among parents.

The message from the school read: 'There will be NO exception for any child coming late to school on Monday, July 12.

School will commence as usual at 8.30am and any lates will incur a detention.'

Parents slammed the secondary school's 'party poopers' and branded the decision 'ridiculous' and 'shocking'. One parent sarcastically said:  'That's the spirit', while a woman added: 'You'd think they would get some sort of leeway after the year they've had!'

Another thundered: 'Absolutely shocking.
Had a terrible year, the first bit of cheer and the school did this. Feel for the kids.' Children have been deprived of education for most of the past year due to successive lockdowns imposed during the pandemic.   

The Campaign for Real Education called the decision 'ridiculous and unpatriotic'. 

Its chairman Chris McGovern told MailOnline: 'Schools should not be afraid of allowing a little happiness and understanding to creep into children's lives.

As a former head teacher I always found that, when appropriate, a generosity of spirit encouraged the respect of pupils. This school is so unsure of itself that it afraid to show a bit a kindness. This is wrong-headed thinking!'

In a statement, a school spokesman said: 'We hope England win on Sunday. 

'A child of secondary age should be able to get up for school to access their learning, on time, even if the match goes into penalties. In line with our Punctuality Policy, we were merely reminding parents that being late to school carries the sanction of a detention.'

Many schools in England are allowing pupils to come in later tomorrow because the historic Euros clash with Italy at Wembley could finish at around 11pm tonight if the game goes into extra-time.  

Teachers at Rossmere Primary School in Hartlepool have told parents they can let their children have a lie in tomorrow morning and can show up for class by 10.30am.

Parents and carers were told the final will be a 'learning opportunity'. 

A school spokesman told Teesside Live: 'We would rather have children rested and in school ready to learn rather than absent all day or grumpy.'

Fairfield Academy in Stapleford also sent a message out to all parents to say any supporters who will be staying up late for the once-in-a-generation game do not have to be at school until 10.30am.And pupils at Salcombe Church of England Primary School in Devon are being encouraged to stay up late on Sunday to watch the match.

Many company bosses are allowing staff a lie-in tomorrow morning to sleep off the hangover if England beat Italy. Downing Street said employers who are able to should be 'flexible' about allowing staff to go into work late or take the day off if England triumph in the final.  

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson comes under pressure to grant a bank holiday for England if Gareth Southgate's men beat the Italians tonight in the biggest game in more than half a century.     

Millions of England fans will be sporting reds and whites in living rooms and in pubs across the country, with 60,000 supporters expected to cheer on Gareth Southgate's men at Wembley Stadium in the side's first major final since the 1966 World Cup final.

The Queen and Prince William have showered the Three Lions in praise, while thousands of England supporters urge the side to 'bring it home' on Twitter - with some fans revealing they have been so excited that they did not sleep last night. 

In a good-luck video message posted on Twitter, the Duke of Cambridge praised manager Southgate, captain Harry Kane and 'every member of the England team on and off the pitch' as he said: 'I can't really believe this is happening' and wished the squad 'the very best of luck'.   

He appeared to be crossing his fingers for an England win while at Wimbledon yesterday, where he and his wife Kate Middleton attended the grand slam to watch Australia's Ashleigh Barty win the tennis Championship in an epic three-set final against Karolina Pliskova.

The duke said: 'Gareth, Harry and to every member of the England team on and off the pitch, just want to wish you the very best of luck tonight.

What a team performance it's been, everyone in the squad has played their part. All the backroom team as well have been truly essentially. 

'I can't really believe this is happening. So exciting and I just wish you the very best of luck.
You bring out the very best of England Logitech Rally System and we are all behind you. The whole country is behind you. So, bring it home.'  

The British Beer & Pub Association predicts England fans will buy 7.1 million pints on Sunday, while over the weekend an estimated £750million is expected to be withdrawn from cash machines - up 12 per cent on the same period a year earlier, according to ATM network Link.

In a welcome economic boost, by the end of the competition, it is estimated that £815million will have been spent in pubs and hospitality venues, with 32.6 million pints sold, a report by Vouchercodes.co.uk and the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) said.

A number of schools have already said they will allow pupils to start later on Monday if they wish to and some employers are considering letting staff enjoy a celebratory - or consolatory - lie-in after what could be a very late night.

The final - which is expected to attract a record television audience of 35 million - is due to kick off at 8pm and will finish by 10pm if it ends in normal time, but could end closer to 11pm if there is extra time or a penalty shootout. 

The official England Twitter account posted this morning: 'A matchday like no other' - sparking a flurry of excited and anxious messages.

One expectant fan wrote: 'Massive day ahead, first final for @England in my lifetime. Wherever you're watching it, whatever your plans are, enjoy! Proud of the squad and what they've done so far, but they can lift that trophy!'

Another said: 'Today is the day!

The sun's out, enjoy it, embrace it, soak up the atmosphere!! The excitement, the nerves, the butterflies in the stomach. Go mad!! Who knows when or if this day will come again! #ItsComingHome'.

One tweeted: 'Been up since 5am cos of today.

Couldn't sleep at all! C'mon @England #ItsComingHome #ENG' - with another writing on Twitter: 'Morning everyone, anybody got any sleep last night or feeling nervous ahead of #ITAENG #ItsComingHome Come on #ENG @England'.  

England captain Harry Kane said his team hopes to do the nation proud in their bid for Euro 2020 glory.

He told reporters at a press conference last night: 'We want to go and bring the trophy home' - adding: 'We know how much it means to the English fans all over the country so we're proud to be representing them and hopefully we can do them proud again.'

The Queen paid tribute to the 'spirit, commitment and pride' of the squad in a good luck message ahead of tonight's final, while her grandson the Duke of Cambridge said it is 'so exciting' to get to this point.   

The Prime Minister told Southgate and the players they had 'already made history' by reaching the final, writing: 'You have lifted the spirits of the whole country, and tomorrow we know you can lift that trophy too.

We are not just hoping or praying. 

'We believe in you, Gareth, and your incredible squad.'