Schools announce heat-related closurespublished at 15:58 BST 22 June
15:58 BST 22 June
Image source, The Henry Box SchoolImage caption,
The Henry Box School in Witney will close on Wednesday
Schools across Oxfordshire and Hampshire have closures and early finishes this week due to extreme heat.
Headteachers have cited concerns over the safety and the comfort of pupils and staff, with some schools relaxing uniform rules and adding extra water stations as well as cutting the day short.
Education reporter Vanessa Clarke said the government does not normally advise schools to close, and that most of the time the heat can be managed safely.
But she said schools are expected to adapt to keep pupils safe and comfortable, with many already relaxing uniform rules and asking children to bring sunscreen and sun hats.
“Older school buildings, which can be harder to keep cool, will often have had staff in early opening doors and windows to keep air moving,” she added.
Guidance from the UK Health Security Agency says schools may need to close their windows later in the day if it becomes hotter outside than in, and that fans should not be used once temperatures pass 35°C.
Lessons may be moved to cooler parts of a school, and hot meals could be swapped for cooler options. Some schools may also change their start and finish times to avoid the worst of the heat.
Oxfordshire
The Henry Box School, a secondary school in Witney, will close at 11:30 BST on Wednesday.
In a letter to parents, headteacher Wendy Hemmingsley highlighted the warnings issued by the Met Office and said the safety of students and staff is the school’s “highest priority”.
She said rising temperatures can make learning environments “increasingly uncomfortable”.
Outside of the closure, Hemmingsley said students could wear PE kits to help keep cool and said the school was installing additional water stations around the building.
Ducklington Primary School has announced a closure from 13:15 on Tuesday and said it would consider its position regarding the rest of the week.
Hampshire
Eggar’s School in Alton is closing from 13:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Grateley Primary School in Test Valley is bringing forward collection to 13:15 on Wednesday and Thursday, citing the red weather warning.
Cranbourne School in Basingstoke will close at 12:50 on Wednesday and Thursday, while Crestwood Community School, near Eastleigh, will close at 13:00 on Wednesday.