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).

Not the same at all as we still had seasons back then. It got hotter and colder. Not all in a rush for a week then dropping 10 degrees.
I remember a lot more shade around too but then I'm not in a city.

No teacher is going to enforce a blazer wearing rule.
I doubt any schools will close.
Most schools will relax water filling, but also if you start the day with a decent sized full bottle, and fill it up once during the day, that's probably OK and enough to drink. Kids are more likely to be late to lessons because filling bottles, than needing to leave during lessons to do so. Primary schools often have sinks with drinking water in the classrooms.

Probably not much hand wringing actually needed. It's going to be shit for anyone trying to work in temperatures that are luckily still unusual. We should expect not a lot of productivity or learning to happen. It's 4 days, slow down, drink enough water, tell your kids to do the same... it's OK.

I’m not sure, but I know I’m not looking forwards to work next week. I’m a lollipop lady and have to wear a coat, I’ll turn into a puddle!

Don't get me started on that one. We live in a climate which is changing and changed. All buildings need air conditioning or temperature controls. Full stop. Do we need to think about reducing school hours or changing school hours until then: yes. Particularly for KS1 who cannot regulate their body temperature. Schools are mostly all glass and essentially green houses. There will not be a lot of learning next week despite everyone's efforts. And as for nobody died that is the most ridiculous statement I ever heard. People die every year because of heat.

20 mins is quite normal. If you are lucky your child MIGHT get a school that allows 25-30mins but they are expected to be back in next class by minute 20 or minute 30. So take off 5 mins to get from class to canteen, same back to class. Add 5 mins time queuing for the meal, plus toilet break, filling water bottles etc. About 10-15 mins of actual lunch if lucky.

Not sure about closing but they should definitely be allowed to refill water bottles and uniform rules relaxed (And by relaxed I mean let them wear shorts and r-shorts, not let them take their blazers off!)

I wish my DC's school closed for heatwave. l would only be happy to use "emergency childcare" days off, or whatever. I see no point in torturing kids in this weather.

but they should definitely be allowed to refill water

I feel like I am trying so hard to explain the practical constraints... will parents come in and organise water refill stations as there are not enough drinking fountains?

How about parents just send their kids with enough water to last the day?

Totally agree. What is wrong with people when they describe some Really unpleasant or in some cases dangerous scenario That they went through and then demand that everyone else should experience the same thing.?

I see your point,and obviously water should be freely available,but I'm not sure having schools retrofitted with a/c is the answer,where is the money to come from,and increasingly these children will have to cope with conditions like this,if they get a/cat school what about home ,and work when they get to that age ,will they have a/c?
Surely you need strategies to deal with it,because it is only going to be more common.

Also, drinking too much water is actually not best for hydration as it can dilute the sodium in your blood. When we lived abroad we were given slices of cucumber or tomato with a little salt on to help with that, but just glugging loads of water is not ideal.

And then they aren't sent with water. I have spare water bottles in my boot to bring in case as the school doesnt have enough cups for everyone. I also emailed to say ease bring fans. Battery or otherwise but i will bring card incase the forget. And then there will be the rules about fans. The afternoons will be a right off. I mean the school will esse tally just be baby sitting.

Really interesting discussion. I hate the attitude that children should just put up with a hot learning environment, often in unsuitable classrooms without adequate ventilation. Then we complain children don’t learn and behave 🤷‍♀️

time for a re think of the school year in my opinion. Finish the school year earlier. June is often hot and the days are long meaning you can have the sun up from 4am to 9pm, so the heat really builds. By late August the days have pulled in a fair bit. Irish and Scottish schools seem to break up a lot earlier.

all schools should have a hot weather protocol. So over x temperature, uniform is cancelled, shorter days, timetables changes etc. have this laid out so parents and teachers can plan.

as for school buildings, it’s like everything we build in this country now. Cheap and always made of glass with no consideration for ventilation and cooling. I just don’t get it.

We prioritise keeping buildings warm when over heating is actually more disruptive and more challenging to deal with. I think public buildings should have aircon but I can imagine the disrepair they’d fall into very quickly.

Ah, so if some poor parent takes their kids out for a few days for a cheaper holiday, they're jeopardising their kids' future, hurting their prospects, spitting in the face of taxpayers (free education), yada yada. And they get increasingly threatening and hysterical letters from school.

But, god forbid, some teacher gets a bit hot. Unacceptable! Fuck the education, suddenly there's no hurting the future, it's completely fine to stay at home for a week.

NO. You'll survive. Do your job, the thing you're paid for. The kids will be fine.

I don't think teachers are concerned about working in the heat. They seem more concerned about keeping the children safe?

Ah I think the point is the adults will be fine. Unless there is an underlying condition, those working in a school will be fine if sweaty and uncomfortable (but we will survive and have enough water and everything we need because we are organised), the kids run the risk of not being fine. KS1 cannot control body temperature and as for the rest they wont organise themselves to keep themselves safe and cool because they are kids and people do that for them.

A teacher's primary job is to keep children safe, it sounds from this thread that many are intending on bending over backwards to ensure that is the case. You sound really quite nasty and unkind.

The government itself says: "children are more at risk of becoming ill with heat-related issues than adults."

Did you see that countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, South Africa all regard the temperatures coming our way as possibly worth reconsidering school provision for?

This is really not about the discomfort of teachers.

My children’s secondary has emailed this morning to say they’re closing at 12:30 both weds and Thurs this week when temps are forecast to be 37-39.

can’t blame them really, can’t imagine teaching focussed children is possible at that kind of temperature.

I guess that also gives them capacity to make the best choices about where to site the GCSE and A-level exams?

Nice work goady.

If I had 3 days tis week with no kids in school, I'd go in and get loads done. Presumably with my own offspring hanging around with me. No queues for water at least.

You are aware the class teachers do not personally fine parents? Instead they normally go above and beyond to catch student up on the work they have missed. THEN pay the higher prices for holidays others are trying to avoid!

Gcse are finished now. My dd finished on monday.

My school has said PE kit and adults can wear no ties, shorts and sandals with backs allowed, no flip flops.

GCSEs wrapped up last week.