A record-breaking heatwave in the UK this summer forced hundreds of schools in England and Wales to close early or shut entirely, leaving at least 760,000 children without lessons and costing millions of hours of teaching time. With temperatures soaring to dangerous levels—reaching over 40C in some classrooms—students and teachers reported heat stress, nausea, and headaches, highlighting the growing challenge of extreme weather for education systems. The disruption came as part of a series of heatwaves this season, raising concerns about the long-term impact on learning and school infrastructure. The findings underscore how climate-related disruptions are reshaping daily life for students across the country.
At least 760,000 children in England and Wales missed lessons as more than 1,700 schools closed or finished earlyThe gruelling heatwave that hit the UK in June caused pupils to miss more than 15m hours of lesson time as soaring temperatures forced hundreds of schools to close, according to a study.The research found that at least 760,000 schoolchildren in England and Wales missed lessons owing to closures during the heatwave – one of five in the UK this summer – as temperatures inside some classrooms topped 40C (104F), leaving pupils and staff suffering from heat stress, nausea and headaches. Continue reading...
