Temperatures across much of the country are expected to exceed 40 °C today, prompting red weather warnings and raising concerns about the safety of students and staff in schools without adequate cooling.
Education authorities have cited the extreme heat and the lack of air‑conditioning in many classrooms as the primary reasons for temporary closures, noting that travel to and from schools could also become hazardous.
Extend Learning Academies Network announced that all nine of its primary schools in north Somerset will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday, emphasizing the priority of pupil, staff and family safety.
Wessex Learning Trust, which operates 23 academies in the South West, confirmed closures for the same two days, stating that pupils will receive work assignments during the shutdown and that families will be notified about any affected trips or events.
Wyvern College in Eastleigh, Hampshire, will also close on Wednesday and Thursday, with adjustments made to the scheduled leavers’ assembly and prom to accommodate the heat.
Across London, Bristol, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Somerset, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Devon, Sussex and Wales, dozens of schools have either fully closed or implemented early dismissal from midday to mid‑afternoon. The closures affect a wide range of institutions, from primary schools and academies to secondary schools and special‑education facilities.
Several schools have arranged alternative provisions for students who cannot study at home, offering optional early pick‑up times or partial closures to ensure continuity of learning while protecting health.
Union representatives have urged schools to act swiftly when temperatures rise above 30 °C, recommending the use of cooler building areas, increased water breaks, reduced physical activity and sensible adjustments to uniforms. The teachers’ unions NAHT and NASUWT have called for modernization of school infrastructure and the establishment of a legally enforceable maximum classroom temperature.
The Department for Education reiterated that it does not normally advise school closures during heatwaves, emphasizing that attendance is essential for learning, but it also stresses that schools must take all necessary steps to keep children safe and comfortable.
Authorities continue to monitor the heatwave and will update schools and families on any further actions required to protect the wellbeing of the school community.
