UK schools have been pushed to breaking point as record-breaking temperatures above 40C forced pupils and staff to battle against sweltering conditions. With classrooms turning into ovens, desperate teachers resorted to makeshift measures such as covering younger children with wet paper towels and providing older students with trays of water for their feet.
The extreme heat has made it almost impossible for effective teaching to take place, leaving pupils feeling listless and struggling to focus. Primary school teachers paint a bleak picture: children were calling for their parents, while adults were at their wit's end. The usual routine was abandoned as schools became centres for basic survival, with widespread reports of headaches and fatigue. Many school buildings are ill-equipped to handle such temperatures, exacerbated by the lack of air conditioning and poor insulation.
Staff and pupils have been forced to seek refuge in shaded classrooms, turning off lights in a bid to cool down. Some teachers have even purchased fans and window shades themselves to try and create more bearable conditions. The government's climate advisers had previously recommended that all schools install air conditioning within 25 years, acknowledging that the country's infrastructure is 'built for a climate that no longer exists'.
The impact of the heat extends far beyond school walls. In June, over 1,000 schools in England and Wales were forced to close fully or partially due to the extreme weather, according to PA Media figures. Department for Education statistics reveal that one in five school sessions in England were missed during this period, marking the highest daily absence rate for the 2025-26 academic year so far.
A survey of 1,000 UK parents found that over half had a child miss at least one day of school due to the heatwave. Furthermore, 40% reported their children returning home overheated and exhausted, while 46% said their children were unable to play outside because of the sweltering conditions.
Round Our Way's estimate puts the economic cost of the June heatwave at between £100m and £200m, highlighting the ripple effect on families and the broader economy. Roger Harding, co-director of Round Our Way, stresses that it cannot be left to individual schools and teachers to manage the climate crisis, calling for a comprehensive government plan to protect people – especially children in schools – during extreme weather.