Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has not ruled out introducing temperature limits in schools following the warmest spring on record for England and Wales. Temperatures exceeded 35C in Kew Gardens last week, with six consecutive days above 30C in some areas, according to the Met Office.
Unions have called for a maximum working temperature in schools, arguing it would encourage investment in heat-resilient measures such as air conditioning. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said this would protect learning, exam periods, and the safety of staff and children.
Phillipson acknowledged that temperature fluctuations and hot weather can make life difficult for teachers and impact children's learning. She told The Mirror: “We'll always look closely at what schools need.” Earlier this year, the government announced a 10-year plan backed by £1 billion to improve the education estate, making buildings fit for purpose and resilient to climate change.
The Climate Change Committee warned that not enough is being done to adapt to the escalating climate crisis. It noted that over 90% of homes are poorly insulated against heat, and even with 2C of global warming by 2050, the UK could see temperatures regularly exceeding 40C.
Dr Emily Carlisle of the Met Office said this spring highlights both natural variability and long-term warming, with nine of the ten warmest springs in England occurring since 2007. The historic heatwave points to a fast-changing climate, with experts warning of an 80% likelihood of a warming El Niño this summer.
