UMVA has learned that several schools across the UK are taking drastic measures to protect students from the scorching heatwave, with some institutions closing their doors as early as today.
The Buckingham School in Buckinghamshire has announced that it will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and asked students to participate in online learning instead. The school cited inadequate cooling systems and lack of shade as the reason for its decision.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the school's administrators have taken a difficult decision to prioritize students' safety, stating that most of their buildings cannot be cooled adequately. All trips and scheduled activities have been cancelled, and teachers will upload work online for pupils to complete.
Other schools, such as St John’s Marlborough in Wiltshire and The Dorcan Academy in Swindon, Wiltshire, are also closing their doors or ending on-site learning early. St John’s Marlborough will close early on Tuesday and remain shut on Wednesday and Thursday, while The Dorcan Academy will finish on-site learning at 11:30 am on Tuesday and stay closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that numerous schools in various regions, including Sutton in south London and Haringey in north London, have been forced to close from Tuesday to Thursday. Some schools, such as Pewsey Vale School and Malmesbury School in Wiltshire, will remain open but close at lunchtime on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
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 organization emphasizes that while there is no legal upper limit for temperature in schools, leaders will do their best to ensure students' safety.
A red health warning has been issued for six regions in England, indicating a risk to life for even the healthy population, as well as potential disruptions to essential services like transport, food, and energy supplies.
