Hundreds of schools across the UK have announced full or partial closures this week as a heat dome settles over western Europe, bringing record-breaking June temperatures. On Wednesday, the hottest June day on record was recorded at 36.1C in Hampshire, prompting widespread disruptions to education.
Scale of Closures
According to council data, approximately 100 schools in Somerset will be at least partly closed over the next three days, with similar numbers in Buckinghamshire (around 100), Oxfordshire (90) and Gloucestershire (more than 80). Many schools have cited red weather warnings and extreme heat as the reason for closures, noting that classrooms lack air conditioning and that travel to and from school could be risky in high temperatures.
Regional Breakdown
Bristol
Dozens of schools in Bristol are closed on Wednesday and Thursday, including Ashton Gate Primary School, Bristol Cathedral Choir School, Cotham School, and Montpelier High School. Some schools, like Southville Primary School, closed from 1.30pm, while others offered skeleton staff for children unable to stay home.
Hampshire
In Hampshire, schools such as Baycroft School closed at 1pm, Bohunt School at 12.05pm, and Brighton Hill Community School at 11.30am. Many schools offered optional early pick-up times, including All Saints Church of England Primary School at 1.30pm and Barton Stacey Church of England Primary School at 1.15pm.
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire saw widespread closures, with Gerrards Cross School closed from 12pm Tuesday through Thursday, and Aylesbury High School closed on Wednesday. Sir William Ramsay School and Dr Challoner’s High School also closed or partially closed. Many schools offered early pick-up options, such as Princes Risborough Primary School at 1.15pm.
Somerset
In Somerset, schools including Shepton Beauchamp Church School, St Dunstan’s School, and Bishop Fox’s School closed from Tuesday to Thursday. Others like Nerrols Primary School and Kingsmead School closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire schools such as Didcot Girls’ School closed from 12.15pm Tuesday through Thursday, and Europa School UK from 12pm. Many schools, including Carterton Primary School and Stockham Primary School, closed from 1pm or earlier.
Wales
In Wales, schools like Llanwern High School closed on Wednesday and Thursday, while Cardiff High School closed from 12.30pm on those days. Several primary schools in Neath Port Talbot also closed.
Reaction from Unions and Government
Unions have been urging schools to take action. Extend Learning Academies Network, which runs nine primary schools in north Somerset, said in a letter to parents: “The safety of our pupils, staff and families remains our top priority. We understand that these closures may cause inconvenience, but this decision has been made to ensure the well-being of everyone in our school community.”
Stacey Booth, GMB national officer, said: “No pupil or member of staff should be expected to learn or work in unsafe levels of heat. Once temperatures exceed 30C, schools should act quickly, use the cooler parts of the building, reduce physical demands, increase water breaks and make sensible adjustments to uniform and duties.”
School leaders’ union NAHT and teachers’ union NASUWT have called for school buildings to be modernised and a legally enforceable maximum classroom temperature to be set.
The Department for Education said it does not normally advise schools to close during hot weather because attendance is “the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential”. However, it added that schools should “take any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable”, as per its guidance on keeping pupils safe in hot weather.
