EDUCATION chiefs have been accused of hypocrisy after a school revealed plans to shut early so pupils can watch a Euro 2016 football match at a time when parents are being taken to court over term-time holidays.

Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill in Southampton is letting students go home at 12.40pm next Thursday to watch the England v Wales match in the European Championship.

The decision comes after Jon Platt, from the Isle of Wight, won a High Court ruling overturning his fines for taking his children out of school during term time for a holiday, which led to ministers vowing to tighten the rules.

Pupils attending the Romsey Road school will be taking internal exams the week after they miss two lessons to watch the match. Parents of pupils at the school have been fined in the past by the local authority, Southampton City Council for unauthorised absences.

A letter sent by Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill head teacher Ian Golding to parents said: “As you are probably aware, on Thursday, June 16, England are playing Wales in their second Group B match in the European Championships.

“After some thought we have decided that it would be sensible to finish at lunch time on this day. This will give students plenty of time to watch the match.”

The letter adds that the school will provide activities for pupils who want to stay and parents must sign a slip stating their child can leave early.

Mr Platt, who has now set up School Fines Refunds Limited which helps people recover money where they have been unlawfully fined, said: “I think it is a wonderful idea to let children watch the football. Education is not all about maths and literacy. There are lots of other things that are important to them.

“But it is completely hypocritical to fine parents for taking time off for quality time with their families and making them feel like the devil incarnate.

“It is completely contradictory if every minute of every day counts, which I have heard over and over again – it is nonsense. It is what they do when they are at school which is important.”

Craig Langman, the chairman and founder of campaigning group Parents Want a Say, added: “It’s not OK for schools to allow absences like this but OK for them to say it is not OK for parents to do it as well. If parents try to take their kids out in term time they’re treated liked criminals and given fixed penalty notices for wanting to do that.

“I think if this particular school hands out fixed penalty notices to parents who want to take their kids out of school during term time then it is hypocritical, if they are they are one of the few schools that have more discretion and say it is OK to take kids out then it is not hypocritical.”

Mr Golding told the Daily Echo: “We have taken the view that unless we are flexible with our times we will have people absent on the day with children voting with their feet and families agreeing with them.

“The Year 11s have left and the Year 10s are moving towards a period of work experience. SA number of them will be in PE that afternoon and some of the Year 9s will be in subjects that they will be dropping that they are not taking into Year 10.

“Sometimes as a leader of a school we have to exercise a bit of wisdom as we might have had a sizeable number of students not attending school, rather than lose 60 children all day.”

Cllr Darren Paffey, Southampton City Council’s cabinet member for education and skills, said: “I understand the concerns that some parents might have, but attendance is a matter for the school’s leadership and governing body.

“We work closely with all schools to monitor any significant issues around persistent absence, but wouldn’t get involved with a one-off such as this.”