UK: Hundreds of schools across England and Wales have closed or reduced their hours this week as Britain endures one of its most intense heatwaves on record, with authorities warning the extreme heat poses a genuine risk to life.
A red weather warning for extreme heat, covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, was issued by the Met Office from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday. Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge flagged 39°C as the headline maximum temperature on Thursday, most likely for somewhere in London or the South East, adding that temperatures at the upper end of the forecast range could go even higher. The temperature could come close to the UK’s all-time high of 40.3°C recorded in July 2022.
School Closures Across the Country
The disruption to education has been widespread. Some 100 schools in Somerset closed over three days, with the vast majority fully shut on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Somerset Council. Around 100 schools in Buckinghamshire were also at least partially closed, along with 86 schools in Gloucestershire.
Schools in Horsham, West Sussex closed early on Wednesday and Thursday, with some setting work to be completed at home, while St John’s Marlborough in Wiltshire closed early on Tuesday and remained shut all day on Wednesday and Thursday.
Hampshire County Council listed 35 schools that partially closed due to the heat, with a further seven in the Southampton area. Schools in south and north London, including in Sutton and Haringey, were also affected.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) wrote to all its members with guidance on managing the extreme conditions. General secretary Paul Whiteman noted that while there is no legal upper temperature limit for schools, leaders would be doing everything possible to protect pupils and staff.
Government Response
The Cabinet Office held an official-level COBR meeting on Tuesday morning over the severe heatwave. A government spokesperson stressed that the red weather alerts indicate the heat poses a risk to life, urging people to follow guidance from the UK Health Security Agency and transport operators.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also weighed in, warning that London was “cooking” and urging countries to cut fossil fuel use in the face of devastating climate change.
Travel Chaos
The heat has brought severe disruption to the rail network. The UK’s biggest train operator, Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR), warned passengers not to travel on Wednesday or Thursday unless absolutely necessary, citing reduced services and a heightened risk of delays and cancellations. Chiltern Railways axed more than half its services across those three days to ensure safe railway operation. Network Rail advised passengers that travel should be avoided unless essential on Wednesday and Thursday.
Records in the Crosshairs
A “heat-dome” settling over western Europe is driving temperatures of up to 40°C, with the latest heatwave expected to surpass the June record set in Hampshire in 1976. The current June record of 35.6°C was set on 29 June 1957 at Camden Square in London, and equalled on 28 June 1976. As Britain waits to see if history is made, schools, transport networks, and emergency services are bracing for what forecasters warn could be among the most dangerous heat events the country has ever seen.
Source: ITV, Met Office UK