UMVA has learned that several schools across the UK are taking drastic measures to protect students from the impending heatwave, with some institutions closing early or shutting down entirely for the next few days.
The Buckingham School in Buckinghamshire has announced that it will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, with students instead participating in online learning. The school cited inadequate cooling systems and lack of shade as the reason for its decision, stating that most of its buildings cannot be cooled adequately.
Other schools are following suit, with St John’s Marlborough in Wiltshire closing early on Tuesday and remaining shut on Wednesday and Thursday. The Dorcan Academy in Swindon, Wiltshire, will finish on-site learning at 11:30 am on Tuesday and remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
A number of schools in Sutton, south London, and Haringey, north London, will also be closed from Tuesday to Thursday. Meanwhile, some schools plan to remain open but close early, around lunchtime, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, including Pewsey Vale School and Malmesbury School in Wiltshire.
The National Association of Head Teachers has issued guidance to its members on dealing with the heat, including advice on mitigating its effects on pupils and staff. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red health warning for six regions of England, indicating a risk to life for even the healthy population, as well as potential disruptions to transport, food, water, and energy supplies.
According to information obtained by UMVA, school leaders are taking the heatwave extremely seriously, with the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers stating that they will do all they can to mitigate the effects of such high temperatures, despite there being no legal upper limit for temperature in schools.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the heatwave is expected to be record-breaking, with temperatures soaring to extreme levels. The situation is being closely monitored, and schools are taking all necessary precautions to ensure student safety.
