Schools across the UK are closing amid rare red warnings over extreme temperatures that are expected to hit record highs for June.
The Met Office has warned of a 'heat dome' settling over western Europe, which could bring temperatures of up to 40°C in some parts of England and Wales in the middle part of the week.
Temperatures for the latest heatwave are likely to overtake the June record set in Hampshire in 1976 by several degrees and could come close to the UK’s all-time high of 40.3°C, which was measured in July 2022.
Due to this, a red weather warning for extreme heat covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham was issued by the Met Office from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday.
Several schools across England and Wales have announced they would close or finish early during the heatwave (Getty Stock Images) Several schools across England and Wales announced they would close or finish early on several days this week to protect pupils amid the extreme heat.
If your school is open, however, the advice is to send your child in as normal.
The Department for Education said on its website on Monday (22 June) that 'during hot weather, we don’t normally advise schools to close'.
It added: "This is because school attendance is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential, and hot weather can usually be managed safely.
"School leaders should make sure they take any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable, and the heat-health alerts can guide this."
A Department for Education spokesperson added: "There is clear government guidance available online to help school staff look after children in the hot weather, including the use of ventilation, keeping children hydrated, and avoiding vigorous physical activity for pupils."
A 'heat dome' could bring temperatures of up to 40°C in some parts of England and Wales this week (Getty Stock Images) Meanwhile, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said it has written to all its members with guidance on dealing with the soaring temperatures this week, including the impact on pupils and staff, legal positions and when to consider closing early or for the day.
Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, 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."
And the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) recommends that children shouldn't take part in vigorous physical activity on very hot days.
For more information, parents can visit the UK government's Education Hub.
Some schools will run in the morning but finish at lunchtime for the next few days. These include:
- Pewsey Vale School
- Dilton Marsh Primary and Malmesbury School in Wiltshire
- Ditton Park Academy in Slough, Berkshire
- The Bulmershe School in Reading, Berkshire
- Cheam High School in Surrey
- Sydenham School in London
The mercury is set to soar to 40°C highs this week, and a number of schools are closing due to the heat (Getty Stock Images) Full list of schools that have confirmed closures:
- Sydenham School, London
- Cranbourne School, Basingstoke
- Eggar’s School, Alton
- Grateley Primary School, Grateley
- Swanmore College, Swanmore
- Creswood Community School, Eastleigh
- Harrow Way Community School, Andover
- The Bulmershe School, Reading
- Cheam High School, Surrey
- The Hurst School, Tadley
- Reading School, Reading
- King’s Academy Prospect, Reading
- St. Crispins, Wokingham
- The Willows Primary School, Newbury
- Churchend Primary School, Reading
- Ditton Park Academy, Slough
- Silverwood School, Wiltshire
- Wren Academy, Enfield
- Kingdown School, Warminster
- Clarendon Academy, Trowbridge
- Pewsey Vale School, Pewsey
- Dilton Marsh Primary, Westbury
- Kingsholm Primary, Gloucester
- St Michael’s School, Larkhill
- Isebrook School, Kettering
- Woodland Middle School Academy, Flitwick (only for years 7 and 8)
- The Dorcan Academy, Swindon
- St John’s Marlborough School, Marlborough
- Malmesbury School, Wiltshire
- Finlay Community School, Gloucester
- Archway School, Stroud
- New Close School, Warminster
- St Michael's Academy, Somerset
- Piggot C of E School, Wargrave
- Radstock Primary School, Earley
- Maiden Erlegh School, Reading
- Willow Bank Infant School, Woodley
- South Lake Primary School, Woodley
- River Academy, Reading
- Katesgrove Primary School, Reading
- Beechwood Primary School, Woodley
- Gerrards Cross CofE School
- Hughenden Primary School
- Princes Risborough Primary School
- Ley Hill School
- Farnham Common Infant School
- Chalfonts Community College
- Denham Village School
- Haydon Abbey School and Pre-School
- Dropmore Infant School
- Kingsbrook View Academy
- Iver Heath Junior School
- Misbourne School
- The Iver Heath Infant School and Nursery
- Farnham Common Junior School
- Overstone Combined School
- Marsworth Church of England Infant School
- Brookmead School Bourton
- Meadow Academy
- The Steeple Claydon School
- Buckinghamshire Primary Pupil Referral Unit
- Bierton Church of England Combined School
- Turnfurlong Infant School
- Great Kingshill Church of England Combined School
- Great Kimble Church of England School
- Aylesbury Vale Academy
- Weston Turville Church of England School
- Disraeli School and Children's Centre
- Iver Village Junior School
- St Mary's Farnham Royal CofE Primary School
- Green Ridge Primary Academy
- Orchard View Primary Academy
- Ivingswood Academy
- Chepping View Primary Academy
- Kite Ridge School
- Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy
- Waddesdon Village Primary School
- Wooburn Green Primary School
- Quainton Church of England School
- Oakridge School
- Denham Green E-Act Primary Academy
- Waterside Primary Academy
- Waddesdon Church of England School
- Filton Avenue Nursery School
- Fairfield High School
- Elmfield School For Deaf Children
Parents and carers are able to check if schools are open on their local council website, which can be accessed here.
Rhiannon Ingle
