More than 1,200 schools and nurseries across England and Wales are either fully or partially closed on Thursday, with many remaining shut on Friday, as a rare red extreme heat warning from the Met Office threatens to push temperatures above 40°C. Hundreds of thousands of pupils face another day away from the classroom or shorter school hours amid the scorching conditions, which are expected to be even hotter than the record-breaking highs seen earlier this week.
The Met Office warned that the exceptional heat will spread northwards on Thursday, with an even hotter day ahead for some as amber and red extreme heat warnings remain in force. The red warning covers an area from London and the south coast to Swansea, Somerset, and Birmingham until late Thursday, with forecasters cautioning of significant disruption to daily life.
Widespread School Closures Across Regions
Schools in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Birmingham, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Devon, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Kent, Manchester, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Southampton, Sussex, Swindon, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, Yorkshire, and parts of Wales have announced closures or partial closures. Many schools are asking parents to collect children at lunchtime rather than the usual afternoon pick-up times, while others have shortened school hours entirely.
Pupils at certain schools have been told they can wear PE kit instead of full school uniform, which often includes long trousers and blazers, to help cope with the heat.
Parental Leave and Support
Working parents are entitled to up to four weeks of unpaid parental leave each year, which can be used in the event of sudden school closures. Parents are advised to check whether their local school is affected by consulting the full list of closures provided by local authorities.
The Met Office stated that the extreme heat will continue to affect large parts of the UK, with temperatures expected to peak on Thursday. The red warning is the highest level of alert and indicates a danger to life, with potential for widespread disruption to travel, energy supplies, and health services.
