A new wave of scorching temperatures next week is set to bring significant discomfort for millions of school children packed into busy classrooms. Tuesday and Wednesday could see temperatures reach up to 38C, prompting the Met Office to issue Amber Extreme Heat Warnings from Monday through to Thursday. Schools across the countries are working on measures to prevent instances of heat exhaustion and fainting, all of which have been reported during heat waves in recent years. The Independent takes a look at the problems facing UK schools and whether they could close as temperatures reach a year-high. Concerns over how hot classrooms can become during increasingly scorching summers have been raised by unions, teachers and schools. In just one example teacher Lucio Poli, who works at Ely St John's Community Primary School in Cambridgeshire, said their 1990s school building is poorly constructed to cope, with windows facing west and black tiles making it difficult to keep the heat out.
Published: June 21, 2026 12:05 pm
Source: The Independent — Read original