UK schools closure rules as temperatures to hit 38C in June heatwave | Weather | News

The UK is bracing itself for scorching conditions this week; The latest heat wave is predicted to bring temperatures close to 40C. So what does this mean for the millions of students crammed into crowded and undoubtedly extremely hot classrooms this week?

An extreme amber heat warning has been issued by the Met Office from Monday 22 June to Thursday 25 June, with temperatures expected to top out at a sweltering 38C on Monday and Tuesday.

Separate amber heat health warnings were issued by the UK Health Safety Agency covering most of England from Monday morning until Friday night.

While such health warnings encourage Britons to drink plenty of fluids and avoid sun exposure, those trapped in stifling classrooms have little control over their environment.

As a result, schools across the UK are actively preparing for the scorching week ahead; educators are working to prevent heat exhaustion and fainting in students during hot weather; Both events have been reported during unbearably hot weather in recent years.

Why is hot weather such a problem in the educational environment?

Teachers, unions, schools and parents have all raised concerns about classroom temperatures during increasingly hot summers in the UK in recent years. Rising temperatures can make concentration increasingly difficult even at the best of times.

Students with special educational needs or other conditions are likely to find the intense heatwave particularly challenging, and they are not alone.

The deputy head of a secondary school in London told the i newspaper that teachers were struggling to cope with the same overwhelming conditions and felt equally stressed trying to educate children who found it almost impossible to focus.

“On the hottest days, teachers can barely teach, let alone help students learn,” the senior teacher, known as ‘Daniel’, told the publication. “My employees say it’s really hard to work properly.”

Will schools be forced to close during the June heat wave?

Although no official school closures have yet been announced during June’s heatwave, there is increasing pressure on the Government to make regulations allowing schools to close when temperatures reach dangerously high levels. Both the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have approved demands for maximum temperature thresholds in classrooms.

The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed it was “carefully considering” the proposals.

Current DfE guidance stipulates that schools should remain open in warm weather and maintains that regular attendance provides pupils with the best opportunity to learn and achieve their potential.

Following a previous heatwave earlier this year, teaching unions have renewed demands for the legal maximum classroom temperature. Education Minister Bridget Phillipson refused to rule out the possibility when questioned in June.

However, he also acknowledged the challenges posed by high temperatures in the classroom, noting that periods of extreme heat can make conditions challenging for teachers and school staff, and can also impact children’s capacity to learn.

What can schools do to keep students (and staff) cool?

Some schools have already begun implementing precautionary measures; Students were advised to bring refillable water bottles to class, drink them, and refill them regularly throughout the day. Schools in the UK are also reminding students to wear hats outdoors and apply sunscreen every morning before heading to school.

A school in Wiltshire has relaxed its uniform policy in a bid to combat sweltering temperatures. From Monday, students were allowed to wear their standard uniform without the sweater and tie or opt for physical education kits instead.

Whitchurch High School told WalesOnline it had made “some sensible adjustments to help students stay safe and comfortable”.