Thousands of pupils will either not be able to attend school this week or will head home earlier than usual because of full or partial school closures amid the extreme heat.
Hundreds of schools have made decisions to either close completely, send children home early or make other adjustments such as relaxing uniform rules to help keep students and staff safe and comfortable.
It comes as a heat dome settling over western Europe could bring temperatures of up to 40C by Wednesday, with this latest heatwave expected to surpass the record for June set in Hampshire in 1976.
Some 100 schools will be at least partly closed in Somerset over the next three days, with a similar number in Buckinghamshire, 90 in Oxfordshire and more than 80 in Gloucestershire, according to council data.
Around 35 schools will be shut or operating on more limited opening hours in Hampshire, some 30 in the east London boroughs of Hackney and Barking and Dagenham and more than 20 in Worcestershire.
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Many have explicitly cited red weather warnings and extreme heat for the reasons behind closures, with some explaining that classrooms lack air conditioning and that travel to and from school could be risky in the high temperatures.
Extend Learning Academies Network, which runs nine primary schools across north Somerset, said in a letter to parents and carers that the schools will be closed all day on Wednesday and Thursday “due to the forecast severe heat”.
‘The safety of our pupils, staff and families remains our top priority,’ the trust added.
‘We understand that these closures may cause inconvenience, but this decision has been made to ensure the well-being of everyone in our school community.’
Wessex Learning Trust, which runs 23 academies in the South West, announced in a post on Instagram that schools will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday ‘to keep children, families and staff safe’.
The trust said pupils will receive work during the closure period and families will be contacted about any trips, visits or events that may be affected.
Wyvern College in Eastleigh, Hampshire, which will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, said its leavers’ assembly and prom will take place with adjustments for heat.
Which schools are closing?
London
- Sydenham School, Lewisham
- Fielding Primary School and Nursery, Ealing
- Cheam High School, Sutton
- Oaks Park High School, Sutton
- Belmont Junior School, Haringey
- Archbishop Tenison’s Church of England High School, Croydon
- All Saints Benhilton Primary School
- Wren Academy, Enfield
Bristol
- Ashton Gate Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Badminton School, closed from 12.30pm
- Badock’s Wood E-ACT Academy, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Bishop Road Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Bristol Cathedral Choir School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Cathedral Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Chester Park Infant and Junior School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Cotham School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- E-ACT Fairlawn Primary School, optional pick up from 1.15pm
- Easton Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Elmfield School For Deaf Children, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Fairfield High School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Filton Avenue Nursery School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Holymead Primary School, closed from 12pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- North Star 265, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Nova Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Orchard School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Redcliffe Nursery School & Children’s Centre, partially closed
- Redland Green School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Soundwell Academy, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Southville Primary School, closed from 1.30pm
- St Bernadette Catholic Primary School, closed from 12.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Westbury-On-Trym Church of England Academy, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Willow Park Primary School, closed from 12.30pm Wednesday and Thursday
Hampshire
- Crestwood Community School, closed from 1pm
- Four Lanes School
- Swanmore College, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Testbourne Community School, closed from 1230pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- John Hanson Community School, closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Peter Symonds College, closed on Tuesday and Wednesday
- Rucstall Primary School, closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Henry Tyndale School, closed from 1pm
- Purbrook Park School, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Woodcroft Primary, closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- The Clere School, closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Hatch Warren Infant School, optional pick up from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Harrow Way Community School, optional pick up from 1pm on Tuesday and closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Stoke Park Infant School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Smannell Field School, closed from 12.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Grateley Primary School, optional pick up from 1.15pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Petersgate Infant School, optional pick up from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Brighton Hill Community School, closed from 11.30am on Wednesday and Thursday
- Ranvilles Infant School, closed from 12.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Perins School, closed from 1pm
- Itchen Abbas Primary School, optional pick up from 1.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Wyvern College, closed
- Brookfield Community School, closed from 12.05pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Locks Heath Infant School, closed from 12.15pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- The Costello School, closed from 12pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- St Faith’s Church of England Primary School, partially closed
- Horndean Technology College, closed from 11.55am on Wednesday and Thursday
Buckinghamshire
- Gerrards Cross School, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Hughenden Primary School, optional pick up from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Princes Risborough Primary School, optional pick up from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Ley Hill School, closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday
- Farnham Common Infant School, optional pick up from 12.00pm
- Chalfonts Community College, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Denham Village School, closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Haydon Abbey School and Pre-School, closed from 1.30pm
- Dropmore Infant School, optional pick up from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Kingsbrook View Academy, closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday and Thursday
- Iver Heath Junior School, closed from 12.30pm
- Bedgrove Infant School, closed from 1.00pm on Tuesday, and closed Wednesday and Thursday
- The Misbourne School, closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, and closed Wednesday and Thursday
- Iver Heath Infant School and Nursery, closed from 12.30pm
- St Paul’s Church of England Combined School, Wooburn, optional pick up from 1.15pm on Tuesday
- Stoke Poges School, optional pick up at 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday , and Thursday 25th June
- Farnham Common Junior School, optional pick up at 12.00pm
- Overstone Combined School, closed from 12.15pm on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday and Thursday.
- Marsworth Church of England Infant School, closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Brookmead School, optional pick up from 12.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- The Bourton Meadow Academy, closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Bearbrook Combined School, closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday and Thursday 25th June
- Buckingham Park Church of England Primary School, closed from 1.30pm
- Buckingham Primary School, closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Ash Hill Primary School, optional pick up from 1pm and likely closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Steeple Claydon School, optional pick up at 1.05pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Buckinghamshire Primary, closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Green Ridge Primary Academy, closed from 1.15pm
- St Mary’s Farnham Royal Primary School, optional pick from 1.30pm
- Iver Village Junior School, closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- West Wycombe Combined School, optional pick up from 1.00pm
- The Disraeli School and Children’s Centre, optional pick up from 1.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Weston Turville Church of England School, closed from 1pm on Tuesday Aylesbury Vale Academy, closed from 1pm
- Great Kimble Church of England School, closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Great Kingshill Church of England Combined School, optional pick up from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Turnfurlong Infant School, closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday
- Bierton Church of England Combined School, closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday
- Denham Green E-Act Primary Academy, closed from 1pm
- Oakridge School, optional pick from 1.20pm
- Quainton Church of England School, optional pick up from 1pm
- Wooburn Green Primary School, closed from 1.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Waddesdon Village Primary School, closed from 12.15pm on Tuesday
- Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy, optional pick up from 1.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Kite Ridge School, closed
- Chepping View Primary Academy, closed from 1.30 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Ivingswood Academy, optional pick from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Orchard View Primary Academy, closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, and all day on Wednesday and Thursday.
- Bedgrove Junior School, partial closures on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Waddesdon Church of England School, closed from 12.45pm on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday and Thursday
- Waterside Primary Academy, optional pick from 1.15pm
Somerset
- Shepton Beauchamp Church School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- St Mary and St Peter’s School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Nerrols Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Bishops Lydeard Church School closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- The Mendip School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Fiveways Special School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Kingsmead School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Whitstone School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- St Dunstan’s School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Wadham Community School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Reckleford Infant School and Nursery, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- St Andrew’s Church School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- St James Church School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Elmhurst Junior School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Staplegrove Church School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Norton-Sub-Hamdon Church School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Norton Fitzwarren Church School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Meare Village Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Keinton Mandeville Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Herne View Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- High Ham Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Horsington Church School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Curry Rivel Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Chidden Fitzpaine Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Cheddar First School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- St Joseph’s Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Burnham-on-Sea Infants School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Westover Green Community School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Charlton Mackrell Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Creech St Michael School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- St Nicholas Primary School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Lympsham Academy, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Nether Stowey Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Puriton Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- St Pauls Junior School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- St Cuthberts Junior School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- St John and St Francis Church Primary School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- West Coker Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Bishop Fox’s School, Taunton, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Fairmead School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Holway Park Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- North Petherton Community Primary, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Tor School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
Oxfordshire
- All Saints Church of England Primary School, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary School, closed from 1pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Carterton Primary School, closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Cheney School, from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Didcot Girls’ School, closed from 12.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Ducklington Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Europa School UK, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Gillotts School, closed from 12.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Hagbourne Church of England Primary School, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Hailey Church of England Primary School, closed on Tuesday
- Harwell Primary School, closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- John Watson School, closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Ladygrove Park Primary School, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Long Wittenham (Church of England) Primary School, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Northern House Academy, closed on Tuesday and Wednesday
- Orion Academy, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Shellingford Church of England (Voluntary Aided) School, closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- St Francis Church of England Primary School, , closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Stephen Freeman Primary School, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Stockham Primary School, closed from 11.30am Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Sutton Courtenay Church of England Primary School, closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- The Oxford Academy, closed from 12.35pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Trinity Church of England Primary School, closed from 12pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Valley Road School, closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Willowcroft Community School, closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Gloucestershire
- Archway School
- Finlay Community School
- Kingsholm Primary
Devon
- Clyst Vale Community College
- Holywell Church Of England School
- Ottery St Mary Primary School
- The Park Community School
- The Promise School
- The Shoreline Academy
- Tiverton High School
Sussex
- Mulberry Academy
- Heathfield College
Wales
- Corneli Primary School, closed from 1pm on Tuesday
- Afon-y-Felin Primary School, closed from 1pm on Tuesday
- Llanwern High School closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Cardiff High School, closing from 12.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Newport High School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Caerleon Lodge Hill Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Central Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Godre’rgraig Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Llangiwg Primary School y, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- St Joseph’s Catholic Infant School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- St Therese’s Catholic Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Tairgwaith Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- YGG Cwm Nedd, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- YGG Pontardawe, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- YGG Rhosafan, closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Ynysfach Primary School, closed on Wednesday and Thursda
Many schools have offered provision for students who cannot work at home or whose parents cannot collect them early. Unions have been urging schools to take action during the heatwave.
What has the reaction been?
Stacey Booth, GMB national officer, said: ‘No pupil or member of staff should be expected to learn or work in unsafe levels of heat.
]Once temperatures exceed 30C, schools should act quickly, use the cooler parts of the building, reduce physical demands, increase water breaks and make sensible adjustments to uniform and duties.
School leaders’ union NAHT and teachers’ union NASUWT have called for school buildings to be modernised and a legally enforceable maximum classroom temperature to be set.
The Department for Education said it does not normally advise schools to close during hot weather because attendance is ‘the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential’.
However, ensure they take ‘any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable’, as it lays out guidance on how to keep pupils safe.
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