Schools will want to mark the day of the Queen Mother's funeral and many will make special arrangements to enable pupils to watch the event on television, headteachers said yesterday.

While it may prove inappropriate for three and four-year-olds who may not be able to understand fully what is going on and have difficulty concentrating throughout, schools will respond "imaginatively" to Downing Street's call for them to participate, said David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said schools would want to offer children the opportunity to watch if they could.

However, it could be a "bit of a logistical nightmare" for large comprehensives with 1,000 or more pupils.

As well as watching the funeral on television, primaries and secondaries may hold special assemblies to commemorate her life, and build it into lessons, for example in history or general studies, he added.

Lessons reflecting the Queen Mother's life and the contribution she made to the nation's life were likely to take place in many schools.

Asked whether some heads would resist the call to mark the occasion, Mr Hart replied: "Heads may have their own individual views but I think they won't respond from their personal positions.

"They will have regard to the feelings of their governing bodies, parents and the community that they serve."

Mr Dunford said: "Schools will decide for themselves and I think where they have got the facilities to do that they will do it.

"I can remember as young person watching Winston Churchill's funeral, and you do recall these things.