The National Education Union (NEU) has advised that 26°C is the appropriate temperature at which schools should consider additional measures, potentially including closure, during the ongoing UK heatwave that is expected to reach 38°C. While there is no official regulatory cutoff for classroom temperatures, the NEU has set a guideline to protect students and staff.
Union Guidance on Temperature Thresholds
The NEU recommends that 26°C should trigger actions such as closing blinds, ensuring ventilation, and providing fans. The NASUWT teaching union has a similar stance, stating that sustained temperatures above 27°C should be considered unacceptable. A NASUWT spokesperson said: “There are currently no regulations on maximum temperatures but sustained temperatures above 27°C should be considered unacceptable.”
Department for Education Advice
The Department for Education (DfE) has issued guidance suggesting that indoor blinds or curtains can be closed where possible but should not block ventilation. Mechanical fans should only be used in temperatures up to 35°C, as in higher temperatures “fans may not prevent heat-related illness and could worsen dehydration.” A DfE spokesperson told The Sun: “In terms of who decides if a school stays open or closed, it’s up to the school rather than the local authority.”
Met Office Forecast
The Met Office forecast for Tuesday, June 23, states: “Extreme heat building this week. A widely warm night, very warm in parts of Wales and southwest England. Most places staying dry, but thunderstorms may affect southern and central parts of England this evening.” For Tuesday, it adds: “A very hot and humid day across England and Wales with strong sunshine. Hot across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland with light winds.” The outlook for Wednesday to Friday indicates: “Extremely hot and humid in southern and central parts of England and Wales. Strong sunshine at times, but increasingly cloudy by Thursday with showers. Becoming slightly cooler from Friday.”
Longer-Term Outlook
Looking ahead to June 27 to July 6, the Met Office notes: “Fairly changeable conditions at first with periods of rain and showers, and there could be some thundery outbreaks at times. There will likely be some drier and brighter spells though. Into July changeable conditions are likely to continue as Atlantic lows move in from the west, but with transient periods of high pressure. This will lead to spells of rain and cloud interspersed with more settled periods. Temperatures remain widely above average, and the far southeast may retain some of the hot temperatures at first, but likely cooler than the preceding few days.”
