The United Kingdom is bracing for a scorching week, with the latest heatwave anticipated to push temperatures close to 40C. An extreme amber heat warning has been issued by the Met Office from Monday, June 22 until Thursday, June 25, with Monday and Tuesday forecast to peak at 38C. Separate amber heat health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency cover most of England from Monday morning until Friday night, advising people to drink plenty of fluids and avoid direct sunlight.
Impact on Birmingham Schools
For millions of pupils crammed into hot classrooms, the heatwave poses significant challenges. Schools throughout the UK, including those in Birmingham, are preparing for the intensely hot week ahead. Teachers are working to prevent heat exhaustion and fainting among students, both reported in recent years during uncomfortably hot spells. The hot temperatures can impact health, and those confined to stuffy classrooms have little control over their environment.
Why Hot Weather Is a Problem in Schools
Teachers, unions, schools, and parents have voiced concerns about classroom temperatures during increasingly sweltering summers. Soaring temperatures make concentration considerably more difficult. Pupils with special educational needs or other conditions may find things particularly challenging. Teaching staff also struggle; one Deputy Head of a London secondary school, known as 'Daniel', told the i newspaper: 'During the hottest days, teachers can barely teach, let alone students learn. My staff say it's really hard to function properly.'
Will Schools Close During the June Heatwave?
No official school closures have been confirmed yet, but mounting pressure is being applied to the Government to establish regulations permitting closures when temperatures reach dangerously elevated levels. Both the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) support demands for a maximum temperature threshold in classrooms. The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed it is 'carefully considering' the proposals. Existing DfE guidance states that schools should remain open during hot weather, maintaining that regular attendance provides pupils with the best opportunity to learn. Following the previous heatwave earlier this year, teaching unions revived demands for a legal maximum classroom temperature. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson declined to rule out the possibility when questioned in June, recognising that periods of extreme heat can make conditions challenging and may impact children's capacity to learn.
What Schools Can Do to Keep Students and Staff Cool
Some schools are already implementing precautionary steps. Pupils are advised to bring refillable water bottles and to apply sunscreen before school. One school in Wiltshire has relaxed its uniform policy, allowing students to wear standard uniform without jumper and tie, or wear PE kit instead. Whitchurch High School told WalesOnline it is putting 'sensible arrangements in place to help students remain safe and comfortable.' There is no legal maximum or minimum temperature for workplaces, but Government guidance exists.
