Dozens of schools across England and Wales have announced closures or early finishes this week as a rare red extreme heat warning takes effect, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 40C in some areas. The Met Office issued the warning for a large swath of the country stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, covering Wednesday and Thursday.
Record-Breaking Temperatures Expected
The Met Office said a "heat-dome" settling over western Europe could bring temperatures of up to 40C in parts of England and Wales mid-week. This is likely to surpass the June record set in Hampshire in 1976 and approach the UK's all-time high of 40.3C recorded in July 2022. High humidity and very warm nights are expected, making it difficult for people to recover overnight.
The red warning, reserved for the most severe events, indicates "severe and significant impacts" including widespread health risks for many, not just vulnerable groups, and even danger to life.
School Closures and Adaptations
The Buckingham School in Buckinghamshire, with around 1,200 students, announced it will close Wednesday and Thursday. In a statement on its website, the school said: "Because most of our buildings cannot be cooled adequately and there is little shade outside, we have taken the difficult decision to close the school site on both days. All trips and other scheduled activities are also cancelled." Teachers will upload work online for pupils.
St John's Marlborough in Wiltshire will close early Tuesday and remain shut Wednesday and Thursday, reopening Friday. The Dorcan Academy in Swindon will end on-site learning at 11:30am Tuesday and stay closed Wednesday and Thursday. Other closures include schools in Sutton and Haringey in London, as well as Pewsey Vale School, Dilton Marsh Primary, Malmesbury School in Wiltshire, Ditton Park Academy in Slough, The Bulmershe School in Reading, Cheam High School in Surrey, and Sydenham School in London.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has written to members with guidance on dealing with the heat. Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: "While there is no legal 'upper limit' for temperature in schools, (school leaders) will certainly be doing all they can to mitigate the effects of such high temperatures."
Travel Disruption and Health Warnings
Network Rail has warned passengers to "only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday." Jake Kelly, deputy chief executive, said: "Extreme heat can have a significant impact on the railway, so safety must come first. We're asking passengers to check before travelling on Tuesday, and only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday if they are going to, from or within the red warning zone as temperatures are expected to peak."
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a red health warning for six English regions – West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and east of England – from 1am Wednesday to 11pm Thursday. This indicates "a risk to life for even the healthy population" and potential impacts on transport, food, water, energy supplies, and businesses.
Transport for London (TfL) warned of possible disruption to rail and Tube services. Claire Mann, TfL's chief operating officer, said: "Customers should be aware that, given the very high temperatures that are forecast, we are likely to see some disruption to rail and Tube services – with rail temperatures likely to lead to temporary speed restrictions and therefore reduced services in some cases." Bus services are expected to run normally, but customers are encouraged to carry water.
The AA noted that gritters may be deployed on some roads due to potential softening or stickiness of surfaces under heat, with heavy traffic causing rutting in places.
Thunderstorms and Power Outages
Separately, thunderstorms hit the West Country on Monday evening, dropping temperatures by four to five degrees. Hundreds of homes in Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury, and Bristol lost power briefly, according to National Grid. Bristol Airport closed due to a fault with air traffic control systems, advising passengers to contact airlines. Avon Fire and Rescue Service reported a house fire in Emersons Green, Bristol, believed caused by a lightning strike; no injuries were reported.
