Dozens of schools across England have shut their doors as the Met Office issues a rare red warning for extreme heat, with temperatures forecast to hit 40C in parts of the country by Wednesday and Thursday.
Red warnings cover central, southern and south-east England, and parts of south Wales, coming into force at 9am on Wednesday and lasting until 9pm on Thursday. The alert signifies ‘severe and significant impacts’, including widespread health risks and danger to life, according to the Met Office.
“Dozens of schools close as UK faces record June heatwave with rare red warning and temperatures up to 40C.”
There is no legal maximum temperature for classrooms or workplaces in the UK – and the government does not normally advise schools to close. But as the mercury climbs towards the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C recorded in July 2022, dozens of schools in the South East, South West, London, East Midlands and East of England have confirmed closures.
Teaching unions recommend schools aim to keep indoor temperatures at a maximum of 26C. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said: ‘While there is no legal “upper limit” for temperature in schools, [school leaders] will certainly be doing all they can to mitigate the effects of such high temperatures.’
For many pupils, a break from lessons means moving online. Others will attend morning sessions only: Pewsey Vale School, Dilton Marsh Primary and Malmesbury School in Wiltshire; Ditton Park Academy in Slough; The Bulmershe School in Reading; Cheam High School in Surrey; and Sydenham School in London are among those finishing at lunchtime.
Schools that remain open are relaxing uniform rules, encouraging pupils to wear loose, light-coloured clothing and sunhats, and moving lessons to cooler areas. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advises that windows should be closed later in the day if it becomes hotter outside, and fans should not be used above 35C.
Adults facing the heat at work have limited legal protection. There is no maximum working temperature – but employers have a ‘duty of care’ to provide a safe environment. Neha Thethi, head of employment at Lime Solicitors, said: ‘Employers usually rely on air conditioning and ventilation to regulate temperatures within the workplace. However, many remote and hybrid workers may not have this option.’ She urged businesses to install air conditioning, ensure access to cold water and check in with staff at least once a day.
For parents, the government’s advice remains: if your school is open, send your child in as normal. But with temperatures set to hit record June highs, many head teachers have decided that exceptional circumstances demand exceptional measures.