Thousands of children across the United Kingdom have seen their return to the classroom delayed this week, as heavy snowfall and freezing conditions forced the closure of hundreds of schools.
Widespread Disruption After Christmas Break
Following the Christmas holidays, pupils were due back in school on Monday, 5th January 2026. However, hundreds of schools in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and areas like Devon did not reopen. The closures were primarily due to the significant risk of travelling in dangerous conditions and the impact of the sub-zero temperatures.
What Are the Rules on Classroom Temperatures?
While travel safety is a key factor, there are also specific guidelines concerning how warm a school building should be to remain operational. Until October 2012, legal requirements stated that school classrooms in England must be at least 18 degrees Celsius (64.4F).
These rules were replaced by the School Premises (England) Regulations 2012, which do not set explicit minimum temperatures. However, all workplaces, including schools, must adhere to the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. This legislation mandates that indoor temperatures must be "reasonable", which is officially interpreted as being "normally at least 16C" (60F).
Union Guidance and School Discretion
The National Education Union (NEU) maintains a stronger stance. The union states that temperatures in school classrooms should be at least 18C, a standard that should also apply to non-teaching areas and outside of normal session times.
Ultimately, the decision to close a school rests with the individual institution. The UK government's official guidance on GOV.UK explains that while schools make every effort to stay open during adverse weather, the safety of pupils and staff is the top priority.
"It’s up to schools to decide on whether it is safe for them to open or close based on their own risk assessment and taking local issues into account," the guidance states. Parents are advised to look out for direct messages from their child's school via apps, websites, or messaging services when severe weather strikes.
Regulations in Wales
In Wales, regulations are more specific. The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 require local authority maintained schools to have heating systems capable of maintaining minimum temperatures of 18C in most rooms, 21C in sick rooms, and 15C in gymnasiums.
