Hundreds of UK schools shut as June heat nears 40C

Hundreds of schools across the United Kingdom are closing or shortening the school day this week as forecasters warn that a powerful June heatwave could push temperatures close to 40C and break national records for the month.

Rare red alerts as temperatures threaten June records

Publicly available forecasts from the Met Office indicate that large areas of southern and central England, south Wales and parts of the Midlands will experience temperatures in the high 30s Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday, with some models showing peaks near 40C. Meteorologists describe the event as exceptional for June, with a strong likelihood that the long-standing June record of 35.6C will be exceeded.

The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning for parts of England and Wales for the middle of the week, the highest level in its impact-based system. The alert covers much of London and the South East, the Midlands and sections of south Wales, signalling a risk of serious health impacts, transport disruption and strain on power and water infrastructure.

Alongside the Met Office notice, the UK Health Security Agency has placed six English regions, including London, the East and West Midlands, East of England, the South East and South West, under a red heat-health alert. Official guidance states that conditions at this level pose a risk to life even for healthy people and are expected to affect services well beyond the health and care sector.

The heatwave comes after a series of unusually warm seasons in the UK. Recent climate assessments suggest that summers like this are becoming more frequent as global temperatures rise, increasing the likelihood that school calendars, building standards and public-health planning will be regularly tested by dangerous heat.

Hundreds of schools move to closures and reduced hours

Education settings are responding by cancelling lessons, sending pupils home early or switching to remote learning for the hottest days. Local and national media tallies indicate that well over 100 schools in England and Wales have confirmed full or partial closures for at least one day this week, concentrated in areas covered by the red warnings.

Coverage from regional outlets in counties such as Devon, Hampshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire describes primary and secondary schools where indoor classroom temperatures have been climbing into the low 30s even before the peak of the heatwave. Many of these buildings are older, with limited insulation and no mechanical cooling, and rely on opening windows and shaded outdoor space to keep conditions tolerable.

In some areas, schools have opted for early closures, sending pupils home at midday or mid-afternoon, while retaining skeleton staffing for families who cannot arrange alternative care. Others, particularly where classrooms are south-facing or on upper floors, have announced complete closure on the days covered by the red warning, citing concerns over heat stress for pupils and staff.

Reports indicate that decisions are being taken school by school rather than through blanket local authority orders. Guidance from the Department for Education places responsibility on headteachers and governing bodies to assess whether temperatures and building conditions allow safe operation, leading to a patchwork of different approaches within the same town or county.

Balancing safety, learning and childcare pressures

The closures highlight the tension between protecting health and maintaining continuity of education and childcare. Parent forums and social media posts show many families welcoming the decisions, particularly where children have additional health needs, while others express concern about missed lessons and the impact on end-of-year assessments and transition activities.

For working parents, short-notice timetable changes are creating logistical challenges. Some employers are allowing flexible or remote working so staff can supervise children at home, but not all jobs can accommodate those arrangements. As a result, a number of schools have retained limited on-site provision for vulnerable pupils and children whose parents are key workers or unable to secure childcare.

Publicly available guidance shared by councils and academy trusts emphasises practical mitigation as an alternative to full closure wherever possible. Measures include relaxing uniform rules to allow lighter clothing, scheduling sports and outdoor activities for early morning, increasing access to drinking water and using the coolest rooms in a school building for core lessons.

However, headteachers quoted in local coverage argue that in some buildings, particularly those with large areas of single-glazed south-facing windows or top-floor classrooms with flat roofs, these steps are insufficient when external temperatures approach 40C. In such cases, the risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration and loss of concentration is viewed as outweighing the benefits of keeping the school open.

Local authorities roll out heat mitigation and “cool spaces”

Alongside school measures, councils and public bodies are activating broader heatwave plans. In London, information released by city authorities shows that the network of designated “cool spaces” is being promoted again, giving residents access to air-conditioned libraries, community centres and museums where they can escape the hottest part of the day.

Several local authorities in southern England are circulating advice to schools and early years providers on shading playgrounds, adjusting transport arrangements and monitoring indoor temperatures. Some are co-ordinating with bus companies to ensure vehicles used for school runs have functioning ventilation and to consider timetable changes that avoid the midday peak where possible.

Emergency services and public-health teams are also urging families to take extra care around open water. Briefings shared through local education hubs note that child drownings typically spike during heatwaves as young people seek to cool off in rivers, lakes and quarries. Schools that remain open are using assemblies and tutor time to reinforce messaging on safe swimming and hydration.

Rural communities face particular challenges, with long school journeys and older building stock. In parts of the South West and Midlands, smaller village schools are among those choosing to close for one or two days, while nearby towns keep larger, more modern campuses open with adapted timetables.

Heatwave renews focus on climate resilience in education

The unfolding heatwave is prompting fresh debate over how well the UK’s education estate is prepared for a warmer climate. Research by universities and climate institutes has previously highlighted that a large proportion of school buildings in England were designed for cooler conditions, with limited shading, poor night-time ventilation and no active cooling systems.

Policy documents on climate adaptation have encouraged investment in measures such as external shading, reflective roofing materials, improved insulation and natural ventilation strategies. Yet budget constraints and competing priorities mean many schools have made only incremental changes, leaving classrooms vulnerable when prolonged heat coincides with term time.

Some multi-academy trusts and local authorities are now treating the current heatwave as a test case for future building upgrades. Publicly available statements indicate that data on indoor temperatures, pupil absences and staff sickness during the event will be used to shape bids for capital funding and to inform new design standards for refurbishments and new builds.

Climate scientists warn that without significant adaptation, heat-related disruption to schooling is likely to become more common over the coming decades. For families across England and Wales coping with abrupt closures this week, the immediate priority is getting through two exceptionally hot days. For education planners and policymakers, the episode is another signal that classrooms built for a milder past may struggle in a hotter future.