Temperatures could hit 40C in parts of England and Wales this week, triggering a rare red warning from the Met Office and forcing several schools to close early or shut entirely. The warning, covering central, southern and south-east England and parts of south Wales, will be in force from 09:00 on Wednesday until 21:00 on Thursday.
Despite the extreme heat, there is no legal maximum temperature for classrooms and the government does not normally advise schools to close, insisting they can usually be managed safely and that keeping children in school is important. Teaching unions have recommended that indoor temperatures should be kept to a maximum of 26C, and school leaders will monitor conditions closely, referring to their risk assessments and watching for pupils becoming tired quickly, especially the vulnerable.
“Schools close as UK braces for 40C heat with rare red warning for England and Wales.”
Any head teacher deciding to close must first consult the chair of governors and their academy trust or employer. Some parents have already been told uniform rules are being relaxed, allowing children to wear PE kits instead. Schools may also change start and finish times, move lessons to cooler areas, and avoid vigorous physical activity as recommended by the Department of Health and Social Care. CO2 monitors can be used to check ventilation, while the UK Health Security Agency advises that windows may need to be closed later in the day if it becomes hotter outside than inside, and fans should not be used if temperatures exceed 35C.
Teaching unions said schools will always be as creative as possible in keeping children and staff comfortable, but acknowledged it would be more difficult in some buildings. They called on the government to invest in making all school buildings more resilient to extreme weather. For children, advice includes wearing loose, light-coloured clothing, sunhats with wide brims, and sunscreen with high protection factors.