England v Mexico - don't be as unpopular as VAR!

A 5am pub licence extension might not look like an academy trust issue.

Until the 8.30am staff briefing.

The Government's decision to allow pubs to stay open until 5am for England's World Cup match has generated plenty of headlines. For school and trust leaders, however, the more interesting question is what happens the next morning.

Increased absence. Last-minute leave requests. Pupil lateness. A surprising number of people suddenly discovering a previously unknown commitment.

The reality is that major events regularly create operational challenges for schools. We've seen similar issues after the recent severe weather, as well as historically over transport disruption and national celebrations.

The strongest trusts aren't usually the ones with a policy for every conceivable scenario. They're the ones with clear expectations, good communication and leaders trusted to make sensible decisions when real life gets in the way.

As trusts grow, operational resilience becomes increasingly important.

Sometimes it's tested by regulatory change. Sometimes it's tested by England reaching the last 16! 

Either way, culture and leadership tend to matter more than the rulebook.