The Department for Education has confirmed that 859 schools remain closed on Thursday as the UK heatwave intensifies, with temperatures potentially reaching 40C. The closures span multiple counties including Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Birmingham, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Devon, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Kent, Manchester, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Southampton, Sussex, Swindon, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire.
Department for Education Guidance
The Department for Education stated that it does not normally advise schools to close during hot weather because attendance is “the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential.” However, it added that school leaders should ensure they take “any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable,” as it laid out guidance on how to keep pupils safe.
Record-Breaking Temperatures
The new June temperature record for the UK of 36.1C was provisionally set on Wednesday afternoon in Gosport, Hampshire. But that could be broken for the second day in a row as temperatures soar again on Thursday, potentially reaching 37 or 38C, and possibly 40C in some areas.
Simon King, lead weather presenter for BBC Weather, said: “Overnight temperatures in Cardiff didn’t drop below 23.5C, according to the Met Office and so we’ve provisionally had the warmest June night on record in the UK.” He added: “This exceeds the previous record of 22.7C set in 1976. Elsewhere it would have been a difficult night for sleeping with temperatures across south Wales and through southern England not dropping below 20C - classed as a ‘tropical night’.”
Regional Breakdown of Closures
Schools closed include Woodland Middle School Academy in Flitwick, Bedfordshire; Aldermaston Church of England Primary School in Berkshire; Coleshill School in Birmingham; and Ashley Down Primary School in Bristol. In Buckinghamshire, Ash Hill Primary School and Aylesbury Vale Academy are among those shut. The Centre School in Cambridgeshire and Camelford Primary School in Cornwall have also closed.
In Devon, Clyst Vale Community College and Cullompton Community College are closed. Essex schools include Anglo European School in Ingatestone and Bardfield Academy in Basildon. Gloucestershire has a long list including Abbeymead Primary School and Alderman Knight. Greater London closures include All Saints Benhilton Primary School in Sutton and Archbishop Tenison’s Church of England High School in Croydon.
Impact on Students and Parents
The closures affect hundreds of thousands of students and parents, who must make alternative arrangements. The DfE guidance emphasizes that schools should ensure children are safe and comfortable, with measures such as keeping classrooms cool, providing water, and allowing lighter clothing.
The heatwave is expected to peak on Thursday, with the Met Office issuing an amber warning for extreme heat. The government advises people to stay hydrated, avoid the sun during peak hours, and check on vulnerable individuals.
