Are your children going to school today?

[Hotday]

It’s going to be 32 degrees where we are today, for the fourth day running.

If you’re in a heatwave area are your dc going to school? Is it closed? Our school are encouraging children to go in but giving the option to finish early.

Yabu - children are staying home
Yqnbu - children are going to school

No.

Both DC's school's are closed, so we don't have a choice. However, as a teacher (at one of the school's one attends), even if they were open I wouldn't have sent either of them today.

I cannot express how hellish it is in those classrooms and how impossible it is for children to learn, notwithstanding the potential health effects.

I'm eternally grateful for a wonderful headteacher who has also told us, as staff, not to go in or work today. DD and I are going to the cinema later to hide from the worst of the temperature!

Yes they have a/c. Dd did ask to come home early as other classrooms don’t have it and have the option to, but no need.

Both my kids schools are fully open. I've sent them in.

DD (12) is lucky her school has air conditioning so will be cooler than our house! They've cancelled PE and outdoor events and they're all in PE kit all week. I gave her the option of staying home but she wanted to go in as most of her friends will be in and there's a particular lunchtime club on today she really didn't want to miss.

DS (7) came out of school yesterday a bit sweaty but very happy and bouncy! He said he'd had a really good day. Half his class were absent, they had ice lollies, trays of cold water to put their feet in, and fans in the classroom. They can wear what they want this week. DS has SEND and needs the structure and routine of school, when he's home all he wants to do is be outside playing physical games, which he wouldn't be able to do at the moment as our garden has very little shade.

If either of them was in any way upset, lethargic or expressing they didn't want to go I'd keep them off, whether it was authorised or not.

My dd (10) came out of school yesterday in tears. She said she was sat next to a window all day and the only fan they had in the classroom was the other end of the room. Her school is open, she didn’t go in today

DC school (London state primary) has aircon in most rooms and they are rotating with the classes that don't. Indoor playtime. All in pe kit. Super sensible. Can't fault the approach they've taken.

We are edge of London/ Essex. DD finishes at 1.30. DS gets to go in shorts and T shirt, no a/c. Both sixth form.

Yes, theyre at school. Im working. No mention of closing or early finish. 33 here today.

Insulation kind of works both ways. That’s the point. There isn’t one kind that keeps heat in and one kind that lets heat out.

if you had ever been to Australia you would know that is absurd to say our schools (or any building for that matter) is built well insulated. Australian buildings are well known for being poorly insulated. In summer when it’s 33 outside it’s 33 in the classroom. Growing up here we never had air con at school. The ceiling fans would circulate hot air and the stench of the sweaty boys who still would run about in the playground. We just put up with it and hoped that tomorrow it would tip 40degrees so we could stay home.

Given the fact I’m a district nurse and people dont stop being poorly in a heatwave I’m afraid my child has to suck it up and go

Yes but its a small school and very small classes plus lots of A.C

Going in. Parents both working. Optional early finish but my kids enjoyed staying till close to do non academic activities so I'm fine with that. It's hot at school and hot at home.

Temperature is around 33 here. My 5 year old is finishing at 1.30pm today, nothing has been said yet about tomorrow. Its a 1950s build school, very hot, but have been giving ice poles and playing in the paddling pool all week. So he has been sweaty but fine.
13 year old is in school as usual, albeit in PE kit all week. She is furious as all the other local secondary schools are on half days. Her school was only built a couple of years ago, whereas the others are1950s builds, so it does seem that the modern building is coping better. No air con installed though.

Going until 1.30pm. Same tomorrow when it’s meant to be 37c again.

As predicted, closed tomorrow as well. We're going to head out early and go to a local park with a playground and huge paddling pool, spend a couple of hours there, grab an ice cream then home for lunch.

So if you're school cancel temp was 40, that's difference of about 7°C to what we're seeing here.

England av summer temps is low 20s, Aus is high 20s. So around 7°C.

It isn't just about how high it is as a number, it's about how high it is compared to your typical experience

Local secondary school letting all the pupils out Currently 28 degress

Mine has gone in all week (secondary) in PE kit. He's been helping with the Yr 6 transition days this week and also has to go in tonight for an extra 2 hours to help with the parent aspect of this too. There are no plans to let them leave early today or tomorrow.

His attendance is otherwise excellent, I'm letting him have tomorrow off. 🙂

The problem is I a lot of schools when it is 33 out is is 36-40 in the classroom. It isn’t the same temperature as outside it is hotter.

Going in and school closing at 1pm, as are the other seven school in the area.

We allowed the kids to leave from 1; I'd say more than half have gone.

Australian children are well acclimatised to hotter temperatures though, UK children are not.