Football and exams don't mix.

For a 16-year-old, as much as for any football fan, the thought of turning off the tv and opening up the school book is not an attractive one.

Examiners must have a sadistic streak because exams always seem to fall slap in the middle of the world's greatest sporting tournament.

Pupils could not be blamed if they thought it was a challenge, timed to test their self-discipline in keeping away from those television controls as well as their understanding and knowledge of the subject.

And virtually every supporter has succumbed to the temptation, a quick 10-minute break from the hard work which remarkably turns into a full 90 minutes, and precedes a night of burning the midnight oil in an attempt to catch up with missed revision time.

Yes, the World Cup is a temptation that even the strongest will in the world has trouble in avoiding.

But head teachers in York and North Yorkshire seem surprisingly understanding.

Gone are the days when anything other than time spent with a nose in a book was time wasted.

The World Cup is not something they see as a major threat which could bring exam grades tumbling down.

Keith Hayton, head teacher of Fulford School, in Heslington Lane, said: "The youngsters are all talking about it now. It's certainly a hot topic of conversation, but I can't see that it will really get in the way of their revision.

"Youngsters these days are more sensible than a lot of people give them credit for and I think they will show that when watching the World Cup. They'll realise if they have work to do and they'll organise their time for that."

He said there wasn't a lot of enthusiasm for teams outside the United Kingdom.

And watching those that they do want to see won't do any harm.

"Watching only the matches they are interested in won't do any harm - in fact it could help them to relax," he said.

Richard Connell-Smith, deputy head teacher at Tadcaster Grammar School, agreed.

"Undoubtedly the World Cup is more important to young people, but I wouldn't expect our grades to suffer because of it," he said.

"The GCSEs are virtually finished now We've got school exams yet to come but this is a great international event, and it doesn't come round very often, so I don't see the harm in watching it.

"If they confine their watching just to some of the matches, and not the commentary afterwards, I would think it would be okay."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.