More than 850 schools have shut in some capacity
With temperatures soaring across the country and forecasters warning that parts of England and Wales could approach the 40°C mark, the UK is facing one of its most intense heatwaves in recent memory.
The extreme conditions have become so severe that some schools have had no choice but to suspend lessons, with overheated classrooms making it increasingly difficult for pupils and staff to focus, work or remain comfortable throughout the day.
The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for extreme heat across a vast swathe of southern and central England and parts of Wales, stretching from London to Swansea and from Somerset through to Birmingham.
The alert represents the highest level of warning, signalling potentially dangerous conditions as temperatures soar.
The conditions are expected to bring “severe and significant impacts”, including a risk to life, affecting not only those who are more vulnerable to heat but also the wider population.
As per reports, more than 850 schools in the UK have closed in some capacity today.
Children are among those most impacted
According to government guidance, children are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses than adults.
As a result, during these exceptional conditions, some schools have been encouraged to close their doors.
According to the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), members have been contacted and advised on how to manage the heatwave this week.
The guidance covers the potential impact on both pupils and staff, schools’ legal responsibilities, and the circumstances in which closure may be necessary.
NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman has said that although there is no legal “upper limit” for temperatures in schools, school leaders will be doing everything they can to reduce the impact of the extreme heat.
This does not necessarily mean a pause in education, as teaching is continuing online, with all classes being moved to digital learning platforms.
Some schools are choosing to run shortened schedules, operating only in the morning and finishing at lunchtime over the coming days.
These include Dilton Marsh Primary and Malmesbury School in Wiltshire, Ditton Park Academy in Slough, Cheam High School in Surrey, Pewsey Vale School, The Bulmershe School in Reading, and Sydenham School in London.
Check which schools are shut
To see which schools are closed, you can use this government tool here to search.
Check with school for full details around planned or partially closures.
- All Saints Benhilton Primary School, Sutton
- Archbishop Tenison’s Church of England High School, Croydon
- Ashburnham Community Primary School, Kensington and Chelsea
- Avanti Primary School, Harrow
- Avondale Park Primary School, Kensington and Chelsea
- Barclay Primary School, Waltham Forest
- Barking Abbey School
- Barlby Primary School, Kensington and Chelsea
- Becontree Primary School, Barking and Dagenham
- Belmont Primary School, Haringey
- Bousfield Chelsea Academy, Kensington and Chelsea
- Cardinal Pole Catholic School, Hackney
- Cheam High School, Sutton
- Clapton Girls’ Academy, Hackney
- Dagenham Park Church of England School
- Eastbury Community School, Barking and Dagenham
- Fielding Primary School and Nursery, Ealing
- Fox Primary School, Kensington and Chelsea
- Frederick Bremer School, Waltham Forest
- Gascoigne Primary School, Barking and Dagenham
- Gayhurst Community School, Hackney
- Godwin School, Dagenham
- Grafton Primary School, Dagenham
- Grasmere Primary School, Hackney
- Harrow High School
- Hawkswood Primary School, Waltham Forest
- Hawkswood Secondary School, Waltham Forest
- Heber School, Southwark
- Helix Education Centre, Harrow
- Holy Family School, Waltham Forest
- Jo Richardson Community School, Barking and Dagenham
- John Perry School, Barking and Dagenham
- Warren Junior School, Barking and Dagenham
- Kelmscott School, Waltham Forest
- Kingsley High School, Harrow
- Kingsmead Primary School, Hackney
- Mandeville Primary School, Hackney
- Mayesbrook Park School, Barking and Dagenham
- Millfields Community School, Hackney
- North Birkbeck School, Waltham Forest
- Queensbridge Primary School, Hackney
- Oaks Park High School, Sutton
- Parkside Primary School, Waltham Forest
- Park Walk Primary School, Kensington and Chelsea
- Shacklewell Primary School, Hackney
- Simon Marks Jewish Primary School, Hackney
- St John and St James CE Primary School, Hackney
- St John the Baptist CE Primar School, Hackney
- St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Harrow
- Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form, Hackney
- Sybourn Primary School, Waltham Forest
- Sydney Russell School, Barking and Dagenham
- Sydenham School, Lewisham
- The Garden School, Hackney
- Thomas Gamuel Primary School, Waltham Forest
- Valence Primary School, Barking and Dagenham
- Walthamstow School For Girls, Waltham Forest
- Wentworth Nursery School, Hackney
- William Bellamy Primary School, Barking and Dagenham
- Wren Academy, Enfield
- Atlantic Academy
- Bideford College
- Burlescombe C of E Primary School
- Chulmleigh Community College
- Clyst St Mary Primary School
- Clyst Vale Community College
- Colyton Primary Academy
- Cullompton Community College
- Halwill Community Primary School
- Hawkchurch C of E School
- Holsworthy C of E Primary School
- Holywell C of E School
- Littletown Primary Academy
- Offwell C of E Primary School
- Ottery St Mary Primary School
- Pilton Community College
- Rockbeare C of E Primary School and Pre-School
- South Molton Community College
- Southbrook School
- St Giles-on-the-Heath Community School
- St Peter's C of E Aided School
- Stockland C of E Primary Academy
- The Ilfracombe C of E Academy
- The Lampard Community School
- The Park Community School
- The Shoreline Academy
- Tiverton High School
- Two Moors Primary School
- Uffculme School
- Webber's C of E Primary School
- West Croft School
- Woolacombe School
- Yeo Valley Primary School
- Crestwood Community School - closed from 1pm on Tuesday
- Four Lanes School - partially closed on Tuesday
- Swanmore College - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Testbourne Community School - closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- John Hanson Community School - closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Peter Symonds College - closed on Tuesday and Wednesday
- Rucstall Primary School - closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Henry Tyndale School - closed from 1pm on Tuesday
- Purbrook Park School - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Woodcroft Primary - closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- The Clere School - closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Hatch Warren Infant School - optional pick up from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Harrow Way Community School - optional pick up from 1pm on Tuesday and closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Stoke Park Infant School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Smannell Field School - closed from 12.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Grateley Primary School - optional pick up from 1.15pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Petersgate Infant School - optional pick up from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Brighton Hill Community School - closed from 11.30am on Wednesday and Thursday
- Ranvilles Infant School - closed from 12.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Perins School - closed from 1pm on Tuesday
- Itchen Abbas Primary School - optional pick up from 1.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Wyvern College - closed on Tuesday
- Brookfield Community School - closed from 12.05pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Locks Heath Infant School - closed from 12.15pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- The Costello School - closed from 12pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- St Faith's Church of England Primary School - partially closed on Tuesday
- Horndean Technology College - closed from 11.55am on Wednesday and Thursday
- Ashton Gate Primary School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Badminton School - closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday
- Badock's Wood E-ACT Academy - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Bishop Road Primary School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Bristol Cathedral Choir School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Cathedral Primary School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Chester Park Infant and Junior School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Cotham School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- E-ACT Fairlawn Primary School - optional pick up from 1.15pm on Tuesday
- Easton Primary School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Elmfield School For Deaf Children - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Fairfield High School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Filton Avenue Nursery School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Holymead Primary School - closed from 12pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- North Star 265 - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Nova Primary School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Orchard School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Redcliffe Nursery School & Children's Centre - partially closed on Tuesday
- Redland Green School - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Soundwell Academy - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Southville Primary School - closed from 1.30pm on Tuesday
- St Bernadette Catholic Primary School - closed from 12.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Westbury-On-Trym Church of England Academy - closed on Wednesday and Thursday
- Willow Park Primary School - closed from 12.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- All Saints Church of England Primary School - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary School - closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Carterton Primary School - closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Cheney School - closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Didcot Girls' School - closed from 12.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Ducklington Primary School - closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Europa School UK - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Gillotts School - closed from 12.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Hagbourne Church of England Primary School - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Hailey Church of England Primary School - closed on Tuesday
- Harwell Primary School - closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- John Watson School - closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Ladygrove Park Primary School - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Long Wittenham Church of England Primary School - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Northern House Academy - closed on Tuesday and Wednesday
- Orion Academy - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Shellingford Church of England Voluntary Aided School - closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- St Francis Church of England Primary School - closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Stephen Freeman Primary School - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Stockham Primary School - closed from 11.30am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Sutton Courtenay Church of England Primary School - closed from 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- The Oxford Academy - closed from 12.35pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Trinity Church of England Primary School - closed from 12pm on Wednesday and Thursday
- Valley Road School - closed from 1pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Willowcroft Community School - closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday