ENGLAND AND WALES — Hundreds of schools across the south of England and Wales are expected to close or vary their hours this week due to high temperatures. Headteachers warned parents about potential closures on Wednesday and Thursday as temperatures are forecast to reach 40C within a "red zone" that includes London, much of the south-west of England up to Birmingham, and parts of Wales.

Many schools opted to end the day early to avoid the afternoon heat. Several headteachers reported that supplies of fans at local hardware stores had sold out, though headteachers are deploying fans and portable air conditioning in classrooms where possible. Most primary schools in London boroughs are allowing parents to collect their children early. St John's Marlborough secondary school in Wiltshire told parents it will close from lunchtime on Tuesday and remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to a red alert for heat.

The Department for Education in England typically maintains a policy for schools to remain open during hot weather. The Department for Education stated, "School attendance is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential, and hot weather can usually be managed safely." It added, "School leaders should make sure they take any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable, and the heat-health alerts can guide this." Bridget Phillipson, education secretary for England, stated that school leaders are responsible for deciding how to manage the heat. She also said, "We do recognise the need to make sure that as we refurbish and rebuild schools across our country, we make sure that they are well placed to cope with some of the fluctuations in temperature that we're seeing."

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said, "Our Victorian school buildings have become greenhouses." He also stated, "The government must step up. We need urgent, massive capital investment to retrofit our ageing school estates with proper ventilation, shading, and climate-resilient cooling infrastructure."

Lucy, a parent in Bristol, stated that her children's primary school was closing after lunch on Tuesday until Friday. She said, "I am worried that this total lack of planning for the heat bodes poorly for kids and working families as summers heat up." She also stated, "School closures disproportionately impact kids and families where both parents work, or single parents, and particularly those in more precarious employment who may lose several days' income." Schools in the worst affected areas have also warned parents that transport arrangements, such as school buses, could be disrupted. Many schools have loosened uniform requirements, often allowing pupils to wear PE kit instead. The government in Wales has written to council education directors, providing advice about the safety of children and staff in hot weather, particularly for young children and those with health needs.