As the UK braces for unprecedented temperatures climbing toward 40°C, hundreds of schools have closed their doors, leaving parents divided over the decision. With no legal maximum temperature limit for UK classrooms, many schools have shut early or completely to keep staff and pupils safe.
Parents React to School Closures
Amy Rankin, a 33-year-old mum of two from North London and full-time carer for her brother, criticized the closures for putting an unmanageable burden on working families. Her son's school closed at 1pm, while her daughter's remained open with precautions like gazebos and air conditioning. "I feel like they are going to be looked after in school and they will probably be happier in a cooler environment," she said. "There would have to be a bomb scare for me to not send my kids to school."
TOWIE star Lydia Bright also expressed outrage on Instagram, calling the early closures "madness." She received an email at 7:15pm Monday saying school would close at 1pm Tuesday and remain closed Wednesday and Thursday. "Children all over the world sit in classrooms in these temperatures every day, without air conditioning," she argued.
Impact on Free School Meals
With some schools shutting early or completely, children may miss out on free school dinners. Currently, over 2.2 million children (26.5% of pupils) are eligible for free school meals in the UK. All children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 automatically receive them, while older children may qualify based on household income. In London, free meals are provided for all primary pupils up to age 11. For many, this meal is the only dinner they get, adding strain on families already struggling.
Teachers Express Concerns
One primary school teacher told the Daily Mirror that attendance is low, with many parents citing heat-related illness. She noted the school is adapting by teaching art, music, or showing films, and keeping windows and blinds shut. "Our school building is incredibly old so it retains heat," she said. "I can understand why schools are staying open—we have a duty to safeguard our vulnerable children, to be that safe haven for them, and to make sure they’ve had a proper meal."
Calls for Legal Temperature Limits
Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, told the Daily Mirror: "Teachers have told us that extremes of temperature in their classrooms are their biggest concern about their school building. This affects pupils' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach." He called for a legally enforceable maximum classroom temperature and investment in ventilation, insulation, and shaded areas.
Under official guidelines, when a Red Alert for extreme heat is issued, school employers must carry out a risk assessment. If infrastructure cannot mitigate the heat, full or partial site closures can be authorised. According to government guidelines, children are significantly more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses than adults. The Department for Education does not advise schools to close but encourages headteachers to relax uniform codes, adapt timetables, and restrict outdoor physical exertion.
Widespread closures have been confirmed across London, the South East, the South West, the East Midlands, and the East of England. Parents can check if schools are open on their local council website.
