Heatwave Forces School Closures Across Southern England & Wales
UKPulse Local Desk
Hundreds of schools in southern England and Wales are set to close or adjust hours this week due to extreme heat. Education unions warn current conditions are dangerous for pupils and staff.
- Many schools in southern England and Wales are closing or reducing hours on Wednesday and Thursday due to high temperatures.
- Education unions, including the NEU and GMB, have labelled conditions as dangerous in many school buildings.
- Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 40°C in a 'red zone' covering London, parts of the South West, and areas up to Birmingham and Wales.
- The Department for Education typically advises schools to remain open but acknowledges the need for safety measures.
- Unions are calling for urgent government investment to modernise school buildings with better ventilation and cooling infrastructure.
The sweltering heat gripping southern England and Wales has led hundreds of schools to close or reduce hours, with the Met Office issuing a 'red zone' warning for temperatures reaching up to 40°C. School closures are expected across London, much of the South West of England, areas extending up to Birmingham, and parts of Wales.
The National Education Union's General Secretary, Daniel Kebede, has warned that it could be perilous for schools to remain open without effective heat mitigation measures in place. Many older school buildings are struggling with inadequate ventilation or air conditioning, impacting learning activities and the ability to support children with medical conditions.
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, echoed concerns about the ill-equipped nature of many school buildings for temperature extremes. Stacey Booth, a national officer for the GMB union representing 100,000 school support staff, has called for urgent action from the Department for Education to provide more cooling measures.
While the DfE advises schools to remain open during hot weather, they also encourage necessary steps to ensure children's safety and comfort. Affected areas include numerous London boroughs, with several primary schools in Berkshire and Wiltshire closing early or entirely due to the heatwave. One parent in Bristol expressed concern that the lack of planning could negatively impact working families.
Why this matters: The closure of hundreds of schools due to extreme heat highlights the growing challenge climate change poses to public infrastructure and daily life in the UK. It raises questions about the long-term resilience of school buildings and the support available for families during such disruptions.
What this means for you: What this means for you: Parents in affected areas may need to arrange alternative childcare or adjust work schedules due to school closures or early finishes. All residents should follow Met Office advice to stay safe and hydrated during the extreme heat.