Former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury and his wife Paris have an unconventional approach towards education, which involves their children being allowed to drop out before secondary school

Tyson Fury and his wife Paris follow a family rule that allows their seven children to quit formal education after the age of 11.

The legendary boxer first met Paris at a wedding when he was 17 and she was 15. Their relationship became romantic after Paris turned 16, with the couple marrying in Doncaster in November 2008 after a decade-long courtship in front of more than 300 guests.

The Fury clan grew with the arrival of their first daughter Venezuela Lynda in September 2009, Prince John James in April 2012 and Prince Tyson II in July 2016. They welcomed Valencia Amber in December 2017 and Prince Adonis Amaziah in February 2019.

Athena, their third daughter, was born in August 2021, while their most recent, Prince Rico Paris, was born in September 2023. With a 14-year gap between their eldest and youngest child, the Fury household has quite the age range.

However, as part of the traveller community, Tyson and Paris have given their children the option to leave school at 11, after finishing primary education. Their eldest daughter, Venezuela, now 15, was the first to quit formal schooling, with Paris voicing her desire for the rest of her children to follow the same path that she and Tyson took.

“We finish school at primary age, which is the traditional traveller way,” she revealed. “We’ve just brought the tradition into the 21st century. Venezuela wanted to leave school, and all her friends were leaving. Her tutor is going to keep her up to date with all of her tests. She will also be having piano lessons.”

Tyson and Paris have different opinions on their children’s education, however, which first came to light during their documentary in 2020. The former world heavyweight boxing champion said he would prefer his kids to stay in school.

“Me and Tyson have talked about the kids going to school,” Paris explained. “Tyson wants the boys to go into education but I don’t; it’s just not what we’ve ever done. I was brought up as a Traveller and I want my kids to be brought up as Travellers. They will probably leave school at 11 and they’ll be educated at home from then.

“The boys will take a wife and make their family and the girls will take a husband and make their family. Until they take a husband or wife they won’t be leaving the home and I wouldn’t want them to.”

Fury said in response: “You say it’s something we’ve never done but I’m a precedent setter, am I not? Now I’ve set these laws and precedents, you watch how many will follow. The parents of these kids, I call them dream killers. Just because something went wrong in their life you can’t pawn it off on your kids.”

Fury is set to appear in Soccer Aid for the first time this Sunday in an effort to raise money for the children’s charity UNICEF. The 36-year-old will co-manage the England team alongside Wayne Rooney in the annual charity game against a World XI, set to take place at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.

“The prospect of leading my England team to victory this June fills me with just as much excitement as any heavyweight fight,” Fury admitted.

“Everyone knows that I am a huge Manchester United fan too, so it’s even more special for me that the game is at Old Trafford this year, and I get to manage one of my heroes, Wayne Rooney.”

Since being launched by Robbie Williams in 2006, there have been 13 Soccer Aid matches, raising approximately £100million for UNICEF. England has claimed victory six times, including the 2024 edition, while the World XI has won seven times.