Hundreds of schools across the south of England and Wales are expected to close or vary their hours this week, as temperatures are forecast to reach 40°C within a 'red zone' affecting London, much of the south-west up to Birmingham, and parts of Wales. Education unions have labelled the conditions dangerous for pupils and staff.
School leaders have warned parents about potential closures on Wednesday and Thursday, with many opting to end the day early to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat. Headteachers are deploying fans and portable air conditioning where possible, but several reported that supplies of fans at local hardware stores have already sold out.
Union Calls for Urgent Action
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said it could be dangerous for schools to remain open unless they can mitigate the heat. 'Our Victorian school buildings have become greenhouses. The government must step up. We need urgent, massive capital investment to retrofit our ageing school estates with proper ventilation, shading, and climate-resilient cooling infrastructure,' he warned.
Kebede added: 'Expecting schools to carry on like normal right now is dangerous.'
Impact on Pupils and Families
Schools without air conditioning or adequate ventilation will struggle to support children with medical conditions or special needs affected by high temperatures. London boroughs are among the worst affected, with many primary schools allowing early collection. Several schools in Berkshire and Wiltshire are to close; St John's Marlborough secondary school in Wiltshire told parents it will close from lunchtime on Tuesday and remain closed Wednesday and Thursday 'due to red alert for heat'.
One parent in Bristol, who asked to remain anonymous, said her child's primary school is closing after lunch on Tuesday until Friday, contrasting with the 2022 heatwave when city schools stayed open. 'I am worried that this total lack of planning for the heat bodes poorly for kids and working families as summers heat up. School closures disproportionately impact kids and families where both parents work, or single parents, and particularly those in more precarious employment who may lose several days’ income,' she said.
Government and Union Responses
The Department for Education's policy in England is 'normally' for schools to stay open during hot weather. A DfE spokesperson said: 'School attendance is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential, and hot weather can usually be managed safely. School leaders should make sure they take any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable, and the heat-health alerts can guide this.'
However, Stacey Booth, a national officer for the GMB union representing 100,000 school support staff, called on the DfE to act with 'high urgency'. In a letter to the DfE's official overseeing school estates, Booth said: 'Union members are increasingly contacting GMB in desperation, as current measures to cool their classrooms, kitchens and workplaces are inadequate in the current heatwave.' She urged the DfE to fund schools to buy more fans, cooling units, and extra water supplies.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: 'Many school buildings are ill-equipped to deal with extremes of temperature – especially smaller primary schools, often housed in older buildings.' He added that the government 'really does need to act more urgently to improve and modernise school buildings, including a focus on ventilation and potentially air conditioning.'
Education Secretary's Stance
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary for England, told parliament on Monday: 'We do recognise the need to make sure that as we refurbish and rebuild schools across our country, we make sure that they are well placed to cope with some of the fluctuations in temperature that we’re seeing.' However, she said it was 'for school leaders as to how they manage that best.'
Wales and Other Measures
In Wales, the government has written to council education directors, highlighting advice about safety in hot weather, particularly for children under four, those overweight, on medication, or with disabilities or complex health needs. Schools in worst-affected areas have warned parents that transport arrangements could be disrupted, and most have loosened uniform requirements, often allowing pupils to wear PE kit.
