Record-Breaking Heatwave Sweeps Europe, UK Schools Shut Amid Rising Temperatures
Europe heatwave forces UK school closures.
More than 1,000 schools across the United Kingdom were forced to close temporarily or send students home early as a severe heatwave swept across Europe, pushing temperatures to record levels and exposing the vulnerability of ageing public infrastructure to extreme weather conditions. The disruption occurred in late June, when unusually high temperatures affected large parts of the country, including Wales, where readings reached 35.9°C.
In Wales, teacher Mark Morris described how extreme heat made normal classroom teaching nearly impossible. With no air conditioning, limited ventilation and windows that either do not open or open only slightly, classrooms quickly became unbearable under intense sunlight. Morris, who teaches design and technology subjects including woodworking and food preparation, said practical lessons became unsafe, particularly those involving ovens or heat-based equipment.
The heatwave forced schools to adopt emergency measures or shut down altogether, affecting students’ learning schedules and placing additional pressure on working parents. Across the UK, more than 1,000 schools either closed for several days or dismissed pupils early, as indoor temperatures rose to uncomfortable and potentially hazardous levels. The disruption also had wider economic consequences, as parents were forced to make last-minute childcare arrangements.
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Education experts and climate scientists have pointed to the closures as evidence that the UK is increasingly unprepared for rising temperatures linked to climate change. According to climate advisers to the British government, many public buildings such as schools, hospitals and care homes were designed to retain heat during cold winters rather than cope with prolonged periods of high summer temperatures. As a result, they struggle to remain safe and functional during extreme heat events.
In many schools that remained open, staff and students relied on improvised cooling methods to cope with the conditions. These included handheld fans, water spray bottles, closed blinds and temporary changes to meal plans, such as replacing hot lunches with cold foods like salads and ice lollies. In some cases, students and teachers even sat with their feet in buckets of water or lay on classroom floors, which were marginally cooler than desks and chairs.
Teachers’ unions have warned that such conditions are becoming increasingly unsafe, with reports of staff feeling faint or collapsing while attempting to teach in overheated classrooms. Wayne Bates, a health and safety representative with the NASUWT teaching union, said members had experienced extreme heat stress during lessons and called for the introduction of a legally enforced maximum workplace temperature in the UK.
As Europe continues to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves, the situation has renewed debate over infrastructure resilience and the need for climate adaptation measures. Experts say that without significant upgrades to public buildings, including improved ventilation and cooling systems, schools and other essential services will continue to face serious disruption during extreme weather events.
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