To think schools should shut in 30' heat

[dragonflyglaze]

I'm a TA in an Infant School in the South East, we break up next Thurs. This week has been tough, the little ones can't cope in the heat and as much as we try and keep them indoors, hydrated etc some of them are just not coping. Never mind the staff who are doing their best to support the children whilst slowly melting.
Next week we are forecast to hit 30' and there's an extreme weather warning. We have to close if its too cold e.g. heating not working, or too windy. I can't understand why there's no rule for extreme heat.

@Headbandheart yes and the buildings in hotter climates are designed not to keep the heat in like ours are.

How exactly do you know? I didn’t go round saying I can’t 🤦‍♀️ I worked a lot abroad and in most cases I was in air con offices. On the odd occasion when I wasn’t it was just awful. Of course I didn’t say anything and would push through with it feeling like someone was pounding the top of my head with a hammer and feeling nauseous.

That would be amazing- however not sure what I'd be doing with my 9 year old while I do a full days shift in a hospital in full ppe? Or should we abandon the patients too?

Look back 2003 schools closing on mumsnet. Climatechange has been happening for 19 years on mumsnet. Scorcher of a year , hitting late 30's in August though but still same topic lol

Lots do not. I work hybrid and our office is not air-conditioned although the windows do fully open.

Well said.

when my 2 year old starts in September (she will be 3 then) il keep her off if it’s too hot as I don’t like been hot so wouldn’t put her thru it x

The issue is we only get one or two weeks per year of this kind of heat. So it's not consistent enough of a problem for the Govt. to fund the necessary measures to manage it (air con.) It's not pleasant for little ones and I think schools should be permitted to adopt their own relaxations of rules and learning for safety. More play outside, in the shade, with water, less emphasis on classroom learning. The teachers at my son's school are working really hard to try and keep the children safe and not over-exposed to the heat but it's hard for them.

People are being disingenuous about schools in Europe. Schools in Spain often close for two hours in the middle of the day or they finish at 1.30/2. The academic year finishes in early June.

My high school in America ran from 6.45 to 1.45 and had air conditioning. We also were off of school from late may - early September.

But what about if your child needs a medical appointment and the doctor/nurse is not there because they also decided to keep their child doesn't like being hot.

Do you think the whole country comes to a standstill as it's too hot, therefore no children at school and lots of parents unable to work?

Good job not everyone is the same then! Imagine the whole workforce downing tools at 28 degrees!

maybe the solution is a Spanish style siesta during extreme heat warnings. But that’s depend on companies following suit to let parents do this. Start school at 8-11:30 and then again at 3-5 . But it won’t happen because this government won’t think outside the box.

And when do the parents make up the missed work hours, or find the cash for two extra journeys (public transport or fuel) to and from work in the middle of the day? We have parents who work in central London, that’s a 45 - 60 minute commute for many of them…

Air con in schools would be great but we can’t afford it. Even if it was installed at no cost to us we can’t afford to run it! Our budgets have been cut so much we made staff redundant and have non qualified teachers teaching some year groups, we can’t afford to add the energy bills for air conditioning!

Countries that still do the traditional siesta largely have people living very close to work. They go home at lunchtime.
It would have been perfectly possible to do this in Britain in the 1950s when most people lived very close to where they worked, but not now.

I’m beginning to think that it would be a good idea if the govt did decide to close schools due to extreme heat because it would piss off parents, cause issues with workers and finally force an addressing of the issue that the school estate is not fit for purpose.

Otherwise we’re going to just keep limping on, have the same situation every year, but getting worse, and the real loser will continue to be the kids’ education.

Lots of schools in Australia do not have air conditioning though.

I was going to say this, but they do tend to have better ventilation than UK schools. The classrooms are a lot more airy (sp?). At least, in my experience.

Have to agree with @givealittlewhistle.

To be honest all this madness on the front pages about the weather in Britain tipping 30 degrees for a couple of days seems even more bizarre when you turn to page 2 and read how airports are only going to get more chaotic next week when half the country jets off on pre-planned holidays to Med, in order to revel in similar temperatures...

I seem to think that schools do close in other countries when its hot. I think YANBU, particularly if the infrastructure is not able to cope with unusually hot conditions.

I think English schools should break up in mid June though and go back in August. By the time they break up it's practically autumnal conditions. You are lucky to get one or two decent weeks before autumn arrives in August.

Re commute I think people throw out options from other countries without considering the reality.

The other issue with air con is it contributes to climate problems

It could be worse... you could have a policy like this... now I know why jackets are called "blazers"

www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/students-scunthorpe-school-told-bring-7325248

When I was young the teachers used to take us to the little playground near the school where there were lots of trees and we would work there in the shade. Cool drinks and a wet hat are also good suggestions.

I was at school during the 1976 heatwave and I can remember someone had a seizure due to heatstroke. Some people can’t ‘just get on with it’ when the temperature suddenly rises above 30 for a few days. Young children and elderly people are at the most risk. Schools have a duty of care to keep students safe and while I don’t think they should close, they need to make suitable adjustments for extreme weather conditions. It’s ridiculous that schools haven’t changed their uniform requirements in 46 years!

I think it’s about working with what you have. I’ve taught food tech for years and we’ve had some baking days- literally no aircon, all windows open etc. Yes it’s uncomfortable but it lasts a few days normally. I feel more for my art colleagues who have windows that open 2cm no aircon ( building designed for it) but the finance office got the aircon.... lots of parents couldn’t collect so some would be in school. It’s a hard one but schools had enough stops and starts over two years. Agree minimum uniform, certainly no blazers etc. Hard call for schools whenever they do it won’t suit

If these temps are to become the norm then hours need to be adjusted I.e. 7am - 2pm and air con implemented. The Middle East cope sooooo…

Could just install air conditioning, no?

I hesitate to agree but yes, you are. Many schools are like greenhouses, cheaply built, poorly insulated and certainly without air con.
Perhaps parents could help to finance some portable air con units.