Thousands of pupils across the UK will either miss school or be sent home early this week as hundreds of schools announce full or partial closures due to extreme heat. A heat dome settling over western Europe is expected to push temperatures to 40C by Wednesday, potentially surpassing the June record set in Hampshire in 1976.
Widespread School Closures by Region
According to council data, approximately 100 schools in Somerset will be at least partly closed over the next three days. Similar numbers are reported in Buckinghamshire, with around 100 schools affected, 90 in Oxfordshire, and more than 80 in Gloucestershire. In Hampshire, about 35 schools will shut or operate reduced hours, while east London boroughs Hackney and Barking and Dagenham see around 30 closures, and Worcestershire more than 20.
Many schools explicitly cite red weather warnings and extreme heat as reasons for closures, noting that classrooms lack air conditioning and that travel to and from school could be hazardous in high temperatures.
School Trusts Prioritise Safety
The Extend Learning Academies Network, which runs nine primary schools across north Somerset, informed parents that schools will be closed all day Wednesday and Thursday “due to the forecast severe heat.” The trust stated: “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.”
Wessex Learning Trust, operating 23 academies in the South West, announced on Instagram that schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday “to keep children, families and staff safe.” The trust confirmed pupils will receive work during closure and families will be contacted about affected trips or events. Wyvern College in Eastleigh, Hampshire, which will close on those days, said its leavers’ assembly and prom will proceed with heat adjustments.
List of Affected Schools
In London, closures include Sydenham School (Lewisham), Fielding Primary School and Nursery (Ealing), Cheam High School (Sutton), Oaks Park High School (Sutton), Belmont Junior School (Haringey), Archbishop Tenison’s Church of England High School (Croydon), All Saints Benhilton Primary School, and Wren Academy (Enfield).
Bristol schools closing fully or partially on Wednesday and Thursday include Ashton Gate Primary, Badminton School (from 12.30pm), Badock’s Wood E-ACT Academy, Bishop Road Primary, Bristol Cathedral Choir School, Cathedral Primary, Chester Park Infant and Junior, Cotham School, E-ACT Fairlawn Primary (optional pick up from 1.15pm), Easton Primary, Elmfield School For Deaf Children, Fairfield High, Filton Avenue Nursery, Holymead Primary (from 12pm), North Star 265, Nova Primary, Orchard School, Redcliffe Nursery School & Children’s Centre (partial), Redland Green, Soundwell Academy, Southville Primary (from 1.30pm), St Bernadette Catholic Primary (from 12.30pm), Westbury-On-Trym Church of England Academy, and Willow Park Primary (from 12.30pm).
In Hampshire, schools like Crestwood Community School (from 1pm), Four Lanes School, Swanmore College (from 12pm Tuesday through Thursday), Testbourne Community School (from 12.30pm), John Hanson Community School (from 12.30pm), Peter Symonds College (Tuesday and Wednesday), Rucstall Primary (from 1.15pm), Henry Tyndale School (from 1pm), Purbrook Park School (from 12pm), Woodcroft Primary (from 1pm), The Clere School (from 1pm), Hatch Warren Infant (optional pick up from 1pm), Harrow Way Community School (optional pick up from 1pm Tuesday, closed Wednesday and Thursday), Stoke Park Infant (closed Wednesday and Thursday), Smannell Field School (from 12.15pm), Grateley Primary (optional pick up from 1.15pm), Petersgate Infant (optional pick up from 1.15pm), Brighton Hill Community (from 11.30am), Ranvilles Infant (from 12.30pm), Perins School (from 1pm), Itchen Abbas Primary (optional pick up from 1.30pm), Wyvern College (closed), Brookfield Community (from 12.05pm), Locks Heath Infant (from 12.15pm), The Costello School (from 12pm), St Faith’s Church of England Primary (partial), and Horndean Technology College (from 11.55am) have adjusted schedules.
Buckinghamshire sees closures including Gerrards Cross School (from 12pm), Hughenden Primary (optional pick up from 1.15pm), Princes Risborough Primary (optional pick up from 1.15pm), Ley Hill School (from 1.15pm Tuesday), Farnham Common Infant (optional pick up from 12pm), Chalfonts Community College (closed Tuesday-Thursday), Denham Village School (from 1pm), Haydon Abbey School and Pre-School (from 1.30pm), Dropmore Infant (optional pick up from 1.15pm), Kingsbrook View Academy (from 12.30pm Tuesday, closed Wednesday and Thursday), Iver Heath Junior (from 12.30pm), Bedgrove Infant (from 1pm Tuesday, closed Wednesday and Thursday), The Misbourne School (from 12.30pm Tuesday, closed Wednesday and Thursday), Iver Heath Infant and Nursery (from 12.30pm), St Paul’s Church of England Combined School (optional pick up from 1.15pm Tuesday), Stoke Poges School (optional pick up at 12.30pm), and many others.
Somerset schools closing include Shepton Beauchamp Church School, St Mary and St Peter’s School, Nerrols Primary, Bishops Lydeard Church School, The Mendip School, Fiveways Special School, Kingsmead School, Whitstone School, St Dunstan’s School, Wadham Community School, Reckleford Infant and Nursery, St Andrew’s Church School, St James Church School, Elmhurst Junior, Staplegrove Church School, Norton-Sub-Hamdon Church School, Norton Fitzwarren Church School, Meare Village Primary, Kingsbury Episcopi Primary, Keinton Mandeville Primary, Herne View Primary, High Ham Primary, Horsington Church School, Curry Rivel Primary, Chidden Fitzpaine Primary, Cheddar First, St Joseph’s Primary, Burnham-on-Sea Infants, Westover Green Community, Charlton Mackrell Primary, Creech St Michael, St Nicholas Primary, Lympsham Academy, Nether Stowey Primary, Puriton Primary, St Pauls Junior, St Cuthberts Junior, St John and St Francis Church Primary, West Coker Primary, Bishop Fox’s School (Taunton), Fairmead School, Holway Park Primary, North Petherton Community Primary, and Tor School.
Oxfordshire closures include All Saints Church of England Primary (from 12pm), Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary (from 1pm), Carterton Primary (from 1pm), Cheney School (from 1.15pm), Didcot Girls’ School (from 12.15pm), Ducklington Primary (closed Wednesday and Thursday), Europa School UK (from 12pm), Gillotts School (from 12.15pm), Hagbourne Church of England Primary (from 12pm), Hailey Church of England Primary (closed Tuesday), Harwell Primary (from 12.30pm), John Watson School (from 12.30pm), Ladygrove Park Primary (from 12pm), Long Wittenham Church of England Primary (from 12pm), Northern House Academy (closed Tuesday and Wednesday), Orion Academy (from 12pm), Shellingford Church of England School (closed Tuesday-Thursday), St Francis Church of England Primary (from 12.30pm), Stephen Freeman Primary (from 12pm), Stockham Primary (from 11.30am), Sutton Courtenay Church of England Primary (from 12pm), The Oxford Academy (from 12.35pm), Trinity Church of England Primary (from 12pm Wednesday and Thursday), Valley Road School (from 1pm), and Willowcroft Community School (from 12.30pm).
Gloucestershire schools include Archway School, Finlay Community School, and Kingsholm Primary. In Devon, closures include Clyst Vale Community College, Holywell Church Of England School, Ottery St Mary Primary School, The Park Community School, The Promise School, The Shoreline Academy, and Tiverton High School. In Sussex, Mulberry Academy Heathfield College is affected. In Wales, schools include Corneli Primary (from 1pm Tuesday), Afon-y-Felin Primary (from 1pm Tuesday), Llanwern High (closed Wednesday and Thursday), Cardiff High (from 12.30pm Wednesday and Thursday), Newport High (closed Wednesday and Thursday), Caerleon Lodge Hill Primary, Central Primary, Godre’rgraig Primary, Llangiwg Primary, St Joseph’s Catholic Infant, St Therese’s Catholic Primary, Tairgwaith Primary, YGG Cwm Nedd, YGG Pontardawe, YGG Rhosafan, and Ynysfach Primary (all closed Wednesday and Thursday).
Union and Government Responses
Many schools are providing alternative provision for students who cannot work at home or whose parents cannot collect them early. Unions have been urging schools to take action during the heatwave. 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 stated 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,” but added that schools should ensure they take “any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable,” as outlined in guidance on keeping pupils safe.
