Temperatures across the United Kingdom are expected to exceed 40 °C today, prompting a wave of school closures as local authorities respond to red weather warnings and the risk of heat‑related illness.
Many schools lack adequate air‑conditioning, and officials have warned that travel to and from campuses could become hazardous in extreme heat, leading to the precautionary shutdowns.
Extend Learning Academies Network announced that its nine primary schools in north Somerset will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday, citing the forecast of severe heat. Wessex Learning Trust, which operates 23 academies in the South West, also ordered closures for the same two days, emphasizing the safety of pupils, families, and staff. Wyvern College in Eastleigh confirmed a two‑day closure while adjusting its leavers’ assembly and prom to accommodate the high temperatures.
School closures have been reported in multiple regions. In London, institutions such as Sydenham School, Fielding Primary, and Cheam High School are shut. In Bristol, a large number of primary and secondary schools, including Ashton Gate Primary and Cotham School, are closed for the full day or partially. Hampshire sees closures at Crestwood Community School, Swanmore College and several others, while Buckinghamshire, Somerset, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Devon, Sussex and several Welsh schools have also halted classes for at least part of the week.
Where possible, schools are providing work for pupils during the shutdown and arranging alternative supervision for children whose parents cannot collect them early.
Union representatives have urged immediate action, stating that no student or staff member should be required to learn or work in unsafe heat. They call for modernised school buildings and a legally enforceable maximum classroom temperature, recommending measures such as using cooler areas, reducing physical activity, increasing water breaks, and adjusting uniforms.
The Department for Education maintains that school attendance is essential for learning but advises schools to take any necessary steps to ensure children’s safety and comfort during extreme weather conditions.
