Wembley Wonder: Charter Academy pupils cheer England to victory!
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On Tuesday evening, 59 pupils took part in a truly unforgettable experience as all-girls group from Charter Academy travelled to Wembley Stadium to watch England vs Spain in the women’s final — and England won!
Accompanied by a team of excited staff, the group set off at lunchtime buzzing with excitement for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a major national final live. For many pupils, it was the first time watching an international final and in a stadium of this scale.
The decisive moment came in the 3rd minute, England goal (1–0) with Lauren Hemp scoring extremely early from a corner after a goalmouth scramble, with goal-line technology confirming the ball had crossed the line by the finest of margins with Alessia Russo’s improvised touch in the box helping the ball fall for Hemp’s finish.
In the 19th minute, Hemp hit the post with England nearly doubled the lead when she struck the upright after a slick combination involving Lucy Bronze. The girls saw everything from the goal line!
Wembley’s size alone left a lasting impression. Pupils were amazed to learn it took around 10 minutes to walk from one side of the stadium to the other. Surrounded by a huge, electric crowd and the spectacle of the national game on one of sport’s biggest stages, the trip delivered far more than just football, it created memories, inspiration and a powerful sense of belonging.
The group returned to school at 1:30am—exhausted, but elated. And, to end the day on a high, there was a well-earned McDonald’s treat on the journey home!
This visit was intentionally planned to support pupils’ sense of belonging and identity, following insights from our termly TEP surveys, which help us identify barriers to inclusion and strengthen pupils’ connection to school life and wider opportunities.
A huge thank you goes to our Foundation Governors, whose generous support helped make the trip possible, and a special thanks to Ms Baldry for organising such a brilliant experience for our pupils.
What a night. What a team. What an inspiration.
