The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat covering a large area from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, effective from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday. A 'heat-dome' settling over western Europe could bring temperatures of up to 40°C in parts of England and Wales, potentially breaking June records. The forecaster warned that high humidity and very warm nights will make it difficult for people to recover overnight.
School closures across England and Wales
Scores of schools have announced closures or early finishes to protect pupils from the extreme heat. The Buckingham School in Buckinghamshire, which has around 1,200 students, said it will close on Wednesday and Thursday, moving to online learning. In a statement, the school explained: 'Because most of our buildings cannot be cooled adequately and there is little shade outside, we have taken the difficult decision to close the school site on both days. All trips and other scheduled activities are also cancelled.'
St John's Marlborough in Wiltshire will close early on Tuesday and remain shut on Wednesday and Thursday, reopening on Friday. The Dorcan Academy in Swindon will finish on-site learning at 11:30am on Tuesday and stay closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Schools in Sutton and Haringey in London have also closed from Tuesday to Thursday. Other schools, including Pewsey Vale School, Dilton Marsh Primary, Malmesbury School, Ditton Park Academy, The Bulmershe School, Cheam High School, and Sydenham School, will close early at lunchtime on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Health warnings and guidance
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a red health warning for six regions of England: West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and the East of England, from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday. The warning indicates 'a risk to life for even the healthy population' and potential impacts on transport, food, water, energy supplies, and businesses.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has written to all members with guidance on dealing with the heat, including legal positions and when to consider closure. 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.'
