The weather is about to get even warmer, with record-breaking temperatures of 40C forecast in some parts of England for Monday (July 18) and Tuesday (July 19). The conditions could be life-threatening and a level four national emergency has been declared by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the affected days.
The heat can cause major issues from dehydration to heat exhaustion and even heatstroke, which can be deadly. Level four alerts are issued when "a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system," the UKHSA says.
"At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups." It's the first time such an alert has been issued since the Heatwave Plan for England was introduced in 2004.
Read more: Schools across Greater Manchester relax uniform rules amid heatwave warning
The summer holidays might just be around the corner, but most children will still be in school as the temperatures soar. A number of schools have chosen to close their premises on Monday and Tuesday, instead teaching lessons remotely, while others have given parents the option to send their children into school or not.
Alan Roe, headteacher of Dr Challoner’s High School in Buckinghamshire, wrote to parents on Friday (July 15) to say that “due to the worsening weather forecast and the red weather alert (which was amber this morning), we have decided to close the school on Monday and Tuesday on health and safety grounds”.
He added that the school would reopen on Wednesday. “Many of our classrooms are very uncomfortable when the temperatures are in the mid-20s,” Mr Roe said. He said that with temperatures forecast to be up to 40C on Monday and Tuesday, “we cannot keep the temperature in many of our rooms to an acceptable and safe level”, adding this decision had been taken in conjunction with several other local schools.
Teachers would set cover work and activities for Monday and Tuesday, he said, but there would be no livestreamed lessons. “This approach means that students can do work when it suits them and perhaps when it is a bit cooler, and staff are not having to work when it is exceptionally hot.”
How hot does it need to be for schools to close?
According to law, there is no specific temperature that will force school to close down for the day, but there are governing bodies which provide guidance. This guidance follows the same structure as the workplace, since there are no laws against working in extreme heat there either, reports the Mirror.
The outside heat has little impact on schools closing, as long as the inside of the building are kept at a reasonable temperature. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) expects schools to put planned measures into place to reduce the heat inside the classroom.
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This can be triggered as soon as teachers complain working conditions are becoming too uncomfortable or if the temperature has become excessive, according to the weather forecast.
The NUT safety briefing states: "If in doubt, 26C should be used as the trigger for these measures. Other steps may also need to considered such as closing classrooms which are unacceptably hot and teaching classes elsewhere, or even sending pupils home, provided reasonable notice has been given to parents."
Some of these measures could include a change to school uniform – replacing trousers with shorts and no longer requiring blazers and ties. Ultimately, a headteacher can decide to school their school if they feel their staff and students are at risk during the heatwave.
What is the government’s guidance on schools closing in extreme heat?
As stated, there is no law or restriction, but the government has outlined parameters that schools and workplaces can follow. According to the Government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there is a responsibility from the employer to ensure conditions are "reasonable" for people.
The guidance states: “In offices or similar environments, the temperature in workplaces must be reasonable. There’s no law for maximum working temperature, or when it’s too hot to work.”
It also adds that employers must “keep the temperature at a comfortable level, sometimes known as thermal comfort” and “provide clean and fresh air”.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “There is clear Government guidance available online to help school staff look after children in the hot weather, including the use of ventilation, keeping children hydrated and avoiding vigorous physical activity for pupils.
“Individual school leaders are responsible for managing their own local circumstances, but we are not advising schools to close.”
On Saturday Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse, who chaired an emergency COBRA meeting on the heatwave, said schools were being issued with guidance to enable them to remain open.
Read next:
Met Office issues first EVER red weather warning for 'extreme heat'
Thirteen ways to stay cool at night that actually work in hot weather
What does a red weather warning mean and why has it been issued?
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