Should schools be closed at 35°C?

[DancingThroughLife02]

Not really an AIBU but looking ahead at the forecast for next week and it’s looking like a scorcher.

I work in a secondary school in a science classroom (which seems to get extra hot during practicals) and we have no fans or AC or anything at all to keep the children cool. Open windows don’t seem to help much. The thermostat in the classroom got above 30°C in the afternoon.

The children need to have their water bottles filled at break times and lunch times only and are not allowed to fill them during lessons - which I disagree with as so many come to me saying that they didn’t get a chance to fill theirs up in the 20 minute lunch break.

Last week I had children saying they were dizzy and feeling sick, and they’re made to go outside during breaks. I’m also not sure that anything I taught them during the extra hot days actually stuck in anyway as they all seemed melted onto the desks.

I know there is a legal lower temperature limit for classrooms/workplaces but maybe with the increasing summer temperatures over the last few years we need to start considering investing in ACs as the heat in summer seems to be more prolonged than a couple hot days and in the meantime consider health and safety of the students (and teachers as even I was beginning to feel a bit dizzy).

I have one - it’ll definitely be getting use this week! Doesn’t help my sweaty back or back of legs though! I must look a right state!

Your school needs to do a better job - children should have access to water at all times, an appropriate length of time for a lunch break, opportunity to stay in the shade, wear weather appropriate clothing.

I'd be telling my child to stay in the queue to fill uo their warer bottle and if they are late to class state why. Any problems contact my mum.

Not sure they should close but in your case they should definitely allow additional breaks to fill up water bottles. They could also consider relaxing uniform rules (no one wants a shirt collar round their neck in heat) and starting / finishing a bit earlier to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat

Apologies. The canteen sells
wraps, pizza, pasta pot type of food so it’s fast to serve. Am assuming they all eat!

The thing is, I’d be happy for my kids to stay at home in the heatwave. However I work for the NHS and am running clinics all week. If people would be happy to have their appointments cancelled (approx 6 months wait for appointments), I’ll be happy to take the day off to look after my kids in the heatwave. If we’re going to start closing schools for events like this (which are going to become more and more frequent), then there needs to be some kind of term time childcare available, or our entire culture needs to change to ensure employers are accepting that parents will need to take time off to look after their kids.

Well it’s only ever going to get hotter for all of our lives.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/25/uk-urgently-install-air-conditioning-in-schools-care-homes-climate-campaigners-say

If it's like dds school, no. Some kids miss out each day and switch to packed lunches, which I think is a deliberate strategy. Eventually enough kids will be on packed lunches for the school to cut the hot food and staff.

What on earth does it mean to be “learning walked” and why are SLT involved?

Yes but in hot counties the buildings are designed to let out the heat whereas in the Uk they are designed to retain the heat.

I don't think as a general rule schools should close on hot days, but they should be ensuring the kids are comfortable and it does sound like your school has a problem.

DS is at secondary - they sent out an email to say they don't have to wear their ties tomorrow and Tuesday was already a non-uniform day. They said they will let us know thereafter. Last year they wore their PE kit during the heatwave (shorts and t-shirt).

They also asked us to send the kids in with sun hats, sun cream and water bottles (which they are able to fill as needed)

Out of interest: if a child in your class tells you they are thirsty do you not have the discretion to allow them to fill their bottle?

The first time I read this I thought you meant their grandma! We only have two fountains for water bottles for 600 (V small rural)!

Here in Australia they shut if it's too hot 🥵 so no you are not being unreasonable 💕

SLT observations, being judged against Ofsted criteria.

I give them the toilet pass and say go via the toilets. We would be in trouble for letting them out “just” to fill water bottles.

Well then you're wrong. I'm a teacher and we have 20 minute lunch break.

As much as I feel for hot kids (mine included) - what happens to all the parents who then can’t go to work?

Yes I think that is the biggest blocker to that legislation tbh

I went to school in Australia and we stayed home if the temp went over 40°. So I think it is fair enough to shut UK schools where the forecast is 39° this week. Many are poorly insulated and not set up for this weather.

Yes!! We have all complained as it technically impedes on our directed hours but they have said that we get 30 mins, in reality they blow the whistle 5 mins early to get everyone to line up and the children definitely take around 5 mins to leave classroom/get downstairs from top floor.

I’ll be honest I do agree with everyone saying rather than closure we should be equipped properly, but the reality is that we’re not. I haven’t seen any fans around school at all and the schools really are like greenhouses.

Show me a post using the word "snowflake", and I'll show you what intolerance and lack of basic knowledge look like. Ditto "woke".

No, definitely not. They should however be provided with fans, proper blinds, whatever cooling system works. I've worked in plenty of offices over the years which have had no ac, and not turning up would get you the sack.

We don't know how to cool efficiently in the UK. We always bleat "it's only hot two days a year!" and then it's the same round of moaning the following summer.

This is so sad. I bet SLT are allowed to refill their water!

I’m actually from a hot country on the equator - schools really did close or have altered hours. They closed at 10am in temperatures approaching 33°C and above and maybe opened in the evening for a bit.

People saying kids go to school in hot countries are talking out of their backsides. I grew up in a hot country and it closed for heat and also we were out of school for summer break much earlier. The buildings were also build to stay cool. Uk buildings are made to keep the heat in. Secondaries stuff kids in to long polyester trousers and blazers even in very hot weather. Miserable children don’t learn.