The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday as extreme heat and humidity could push temperatures above 40°C in parts of England and Wales, prompting some schools to relax uniform rules and consider closures.
Schools Relax Uniform Rules Amid Extreme Heat
Many schools have already announced they will ease uniform requirements to help pupils cope with the stifling conditions. Falkland Primary School in Newbury said children are welcome to attend in PE kits, while awaiting advice on potential early closures if temperatures exceed 35°C. St John Fisher Catholic High School in Wigan told students they are not required to wear blazers or ties and encouraged bringing water bottles. The Castle Rock School in Coalville, Leicestershire, is allowing students to attend without blazers, grey jumpers or ties, but still requires standard uniform.
Red Warning and Risk to Life
The red warning covers an area from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, effective from 9am Wednesday to 9pm Thursday. The Met Office warned of a risk to life, significant disruption to travel and energy supplies, and possible damage to property and infrastructure. Amber warnings remain in place from Monday to Thursday for large parts of England and Wales.
Before the red warning, teaching union NASUWT said that if alerts were upgraded, school and college employers must carry out an immediate additional risk assessment, which could include full or partial closure of the site. The union reiterated this after the red warning, stressing that risk assessments must account for travel to and from sites and potential disruption to public transport.
Department for Education Guidance
The Department for Education does not normally recommend school closures during hot weather, stating: "During hot weather, we don’t normally advise schools to close. This is because school attendance is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential, and hot weather can usually be managed safely." The DfE advises school leaders to take steps to ensure children are safe and comfortable, guided by heat-health alerts.
The extreme heat will be accompanied by high humidity, with very warm nights making it difficult for people to recover overnight. The Met Office urged people to adapt routines to cope with the heat.
