Over 1,200 schools across the UK have shut due to the heatwave, with a number across Greater Manchester closing early. The heatwave brought record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday, with forecasters warning they could rise even higher today (June 25). Provisional figures suggest the temperature reached 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, breaking the previous June record from the summer of 1976. The heatwave forecast is set to continue on Thursday and Friday, and the Met Office said it is possible the figure could be “beaten again”.
Greater Manchester School Closures
In Greater Manchester, The Dixons Newell Green Academy in Wythenshawe announced it would be closing early on Thursday amid the extreme hot weather. Trafford Council says a number in the region will also be shutting early, while eight nurseries in the region in the Brighter Beginnings group say they will also be closing at 12pm. Wigan Council reported that a number of local schools are taking measures including adapted hours and optional early pick-ups to manage pupil safety. Rochdale Council said no closures had been announced as of 11.30am, but one school altered its school day timings.
National School Closures and Government Advice
More than 1,000 schools across England and Wales are now believed to have been fully or partially closed amid the extreme heatwave. The BBC reported that at least 578 schools in England had announced full or partial closures, with the vast majority located in the south. On Tuesday, Wales Online reported 306, but the total is now believed to be around 500. Taken together, the figures suggest at least 1,078 schools across England and Wales have been affected. The Government has issued advice to schools with children told they can wear PE kit rather than full school uniform. Some after-school clubs have also been cancelled. The Department for Education said on its website that 'during hot weather, we don't normally advise schools to close'. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “I know hot weather can be a struggle. But my message to families is simple: if your child’s school is open, you should keep sending them into school. Teachers are relaxing uniform rules, keeping classrooms cool, making sure children are hydrated, teaching critical skills like water safety, and avoiding vigorous activity on the hottest days. If your child has medical needs which mean you’re especially worried about the heat, talk to your school about what they can do. Every day of absence and lesson missed has a cost – and that cost falls hardest on our most disadvantaged pupils and working class communities. So, pack a water bottle, put on the sunscreen, and trust that your child’s school has got this.”
Transport Disruption and Record Temperatures
Train services across Greater Manchester will be 'significantly reduced' throughout the rest of this week amid a period of 'extreme heat', it has been confirmed. A Northern spokesperson said: "Due to the extreme heat, we have had to significantly reduce the number of trains running in Greater Manchester until Friday, and those that are running will be much busier than usual. We are advising customers to only travel if their journey is essential, check their full journey before setting off, and to be prepared for longer waiting times and short-notice cancellations. We are doing everything we can to keep people moving safely." Transport for Wales cancelled services between Manchester and Cardiff, and other routes. The record for the UK’s hottest June day was broken for the fourth time on Wednesday, with a provisional temperature of 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, surpassing the previous record of 35.6C from 1976 and 1957. BBC weather forecaster Chris Fawkes said he expected the June temperature record to get “absolutely smashed”, telling the Today programme: “I think this afternoon we’re probably looking at highs reaching around 37C, maybe 38C, so by a big margin we are likely to set a new June temperature record.” Night time temperatures also remained above 20C in many places, with Brize Norton in Oxfordshire not dipping below 22.3C and Heathrow not dipping below 22.1C, creating “tropical nights” that make it hard to sleep.
Political Responses and Calls for Action
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said schools should be 'pragmatic' on whether they remain open, depending on how well the temperature can be controlled. Asked if he thought there should be a limit on how hot classrooms and workplaces get, he told LBC: “I think there should be - both minimum and maximum. Sometimes in winter months schools and workplaces shouldn’t be too cold just as in summer they shouldn’t be too hot. I think it’s really important for each individual employer and headteacher to make a common-sense decision based on what’s right for them. For some children at school today, though, it’s probably cooler than their home and that’s why it’s really important to be pragmatic and dextrous when it comes to these sorts of decisions.” He also said the capital and the country had not adapted to deal with climate change and urged the public to “bear with us” as they face public transport delays. More than 11,500 people have signed an online petition calling for a maximum temperature at which schools can remain open. The Liberal Democrats called for the Government to open air-conditioned public buildings as “cool hubs” for vulnerable people. Greenpeace UK’s political campaigner Angharad Hopkinson said: “The summer of ’76 may be seared into the nation’s memory, but it’s quickly being overtaken by even more terrifying heatwaves. The only way off this hellish treadmill is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Our next Prime Minister needs to act on the evidence outside their window and the advice of their scientific advisors and stay the course on climate policies.”
