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 live abroad, children go to school in 40 degree heat sometimes and no air con, it’s tiring but it’s ok, teachers bring a fan in. There are also many countries around the world where school stays open when there is snow too

Why is the Uk so mard?!

While I think closing the schools when it's hot is ridiculous, and it isn't done here, the uniform policy in the UK is just mad. Kids here have sensible summer uniforms and aren't required to wear blazers at all times. Madness.

Yes but we're British. A good strong cup of tea and a stiff upper lip is all we need here to survive. Anything else would be highly frowned upon! God forbid anyone be sensible.

I agree with you. It's ridiculous to base H&S issues around whether or not parents' employers will give them time off. What sort of messed up world do we live in.?

However, the solution is obviously funding for air-conditioning. I'm lucky - I work in a lovely private school with excellent air-conditioning in summer and heating in winter. I'd rather be there than at home! I can't inagine working in a school without that!

When I worked (taught) abroad, my school did close when it was too hot actually. The air-conditioning was on the fritz. So it's not just a UK thing... it's a common sense thing 🤦🏼‍♀️

My child’s school has a trip planned by coach (one hour 15 mins each way) for years 1&2 (small village school) on Tuesday when it’s 38-40 degrees. Please someone reassure me they will postpone this!

Never ever happened in 20 years of me living here

Earlier on another thread i said "someone will have to die first Its the British way"

My point is there's a fair amount of difference between 32 degrees and 39 degrees; and to be honest it would have made perfect sense to give people the option of being robed or not.

I've no doubt you were hot and uncomfortable in your robes. But it was hardly record-breaking heat.

You want kids to carry 2 litre bottles around with them?

Surely it's about time the UK got into the modern world and relaxed these ridiculous rules. Kids here wear sensible summer uniforms, is the world going to end if the UK follows suit?

That's what I've told my husband.

Schools don't close here when it's hot, and we've had a few 40C days.

In some American cities, schools without AC close when it gets too hot. They're retrofitting it when possible but it's expensive (and the summer vacation there is longer so it was less of an issue historically). So no, they don't all stay open elsewhere.

Unlikely, as they’ll have paid for the coaches which probably can’t be rescheduled. Do they have air con?

I taught in Germany. They have (or used to when I lived there) hitzefrei when it’s too hot. 27 degrees in the shade at 9.30am was the threshold in the state I lived in. In offices, if it reaches 30 degrees indoors fans etc must be provided. At 35 degrees indoors, the safety of employees is paramount and there has to be air con or proper cooling measures. Otherwise it’s closed. Schools are workplaces as well as places of education. Teachers as employees have the right to a safe working environment, even if Mumsnetters are happy to send their children in to be minded.

Most schools seem to be going with PE kit for the week.

I have seen just loads of the schools locally posting similar on Facebook today about the week ahead-that seems really sensible. I don’t know of any that are saying you have to wear ties/blazers or tights.

Honestly I'd ask to see the updated risk assessment.

That said depending on coach and destination, is there a chance it could be cooler?

DS1 had an activity day at Box Hill when it was 35 degrees last year; they adapted it so that instead of hiking up the hill the coach took them to the top where it was a little cooler and there was a breeze, and plenty of shade in the woods. He said it was much more comfortable that being in school.

Yea and I am sure those buildings are better equipped to deal with the heat and keeping it cooler inside then out. While here, its like an oven and hotter inside then out during summer....and colder inside then out during winter! Not sure how this is possible.

Interesting cut off. What about if it was 27 in the shade at 10am though, and for the rest of the day?

Oh come on. We have a maritime climate. I’m in the SE and we get the hottest and driest of the UK weather. It’s still nothing like Spanish or Greek weather.
We get through it because in a few weeks we’ll all be moaning that it always gets miserable and cooler once the kids break up.
Also there isn’t anything wrong with being a bit stoic now and again.

The school I work in has 30 min lunch. This is the only time the toilets are open and the queue for lunch is around 10 or so mins . They wouldn't have time to fill a bottle then either.
Break Is 15 min.

South facing and old single glazed metal frame windows. So scorching in summer , bitter cold in winter

Your post just reminded me of Michael Mosley, who died after going for a walk in the Greek heat. And he was a doctor, too! Just goes to show how the heat can creep up on anyone - much like the cold. With both, you sometimes don't realise you're in trouble until it's too late. Another reason to be sensible in extreme temps. Very occasionally, on ski hols and on summer hols, there have been days where it has just been too cold or too hot to (sensibly) be outside, and I have stayed in. But we did have air con at the hotels during the hot hols.

If the coach is air conditioned (which I can’t imagine it isn’t!) then to be fair it’s way better than being in school!!!