More than 75 schools across England are shutting early this week as a heatwave pushes temperatures to a forecast 38C, prompting the Met Office to issue a Red Extreme Heat Warning for Wednesday and Thursday. The warning covers large parts of England, with the June all-time daily temperature record expected to be broken.
Decision-Making Responsibility
A spokesperson from the Department for Education told BirminghamLive: “In terms of who decides if a school stays open or closed, it’s up to the school rather than the local authority.” New Department guidance asks schools and early years settings to “review actions to manage heat for all pupils and staff” when a red alert is indicated. Hampshire County Council has contacted schools to share “general advice” on keeping buildings and students cool, but emphasised that while schools are “not normally expected to close in hot weather,” each school is responsible for its own decision.
School Closures Across England
Maiden Erlegh Trust has confirmed that its schools across Berkshire will close at 1:30pm on Tuesday and not reopen until Friday. In a letter to parents, Maiden Erlegh School headteacher Steve Jupp said: “While we appreciate the inconvenience that short-notice closures may cause for families, the health and safety of students and staff must remain our priority.” St Birinus School in Didcot will end its days at 12:15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. In a Facebook post, the school stated this was to “ensure everyone remains safe during these unprecedented weather conditions.” In Oxfordshire, The Henry Box School in Witney will close at 11:30am on Wednesday. Headteacher Wendy Hemmingsley highlighted Met Office warnings and said safety is the school’s “highest priority,” noting rising temperatures can make learning environments “increasingly uncomfortable.”
Full List of Schools Closing Early
The following schools have announced early closures or partial closures:
- Sydenham School, London
- Cranbourne School, Basingstoke
- Eggar’s School, Alton
- Grateley Primary School, Grateley
- Swanmore College, Swanmore
- Creswood Community School, Eastleigh
- Harrow Way Community School, Andover
- The Bulmershe School, Reading
- Cheam High School, Surrey
- The Hurst School, Tadley
- Reading School, Reading
- King’s Academy Prospect, Reading
- St. Crispins, Wokingham
- The Willows Primary School, Newbury
- Churchend Primary School, Reading
- Ditton Park Academy, Slough
- Silverwood School, Wiltshire
- Wren Academy, Enfield
- Kingdown School, Warminster
- Clarendon Academy, Trowbridge
- Pewsey Vale School, Pewsey
- Dilton Marsh Primary, Westbury
- Kingsholm Primary, Gloucester
- St Michael’s School, Larkhill
- Isebrook School, Kettering
- Woodland Middle School Academy, Flitwick (year 7 and 8 only)
- The Dorcan Academy, Swindon
- St John’s Marlborough School, Marlborough
- Malmesbury School, Wiltshire
- Finlay Community School, Gloucester
- Archway School, Stroud
- New Close School, Warminster
- St Michael's Academy, Somerset
- Piggot C of E School, Wargrave
- Radstock Primary School, Earley
- Maiden Erlegh School, Reading
- Willow Bank Infant School, Woodley
- South Lake Primary School, Woodley
- River Academy, Reading
- Katesgrove Primary School, Reading
- Beechwood Primary School, Woodley
- Oaks Park High School, Sutton, South London (finishes at 12.20pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
- Belmont Junior School, Haringey, North London (finishes at 1.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday where feasible)
- All Saints Benhilton Primary School, Sutton, London (finishes at 1.15pm this week)
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Southampton (full closure)
- Ranvilles Infant School, Fareham and Gosport (partial closure)
- Peter Symonds College, Winchester and Eastleigh (partial closure)
- Rucstall Primary School, Basingstoke and Deane (partial closure)
- Brighton Hill Community School, Basingstoke and Deane (partial closure)
- Four Lanes Community Junior School, Basingstoke and Deane (partial closure)
- John Hanson Community School, Test Valley (partial closure)
- Testbourne Community School, Basingstoke and Deane (partial closure)
- Petersgate Infant School, East Hampshire (partial closure)
- Brookfield Community School, Sarisbury Green (partial closure)
- Crestwood Community School, Eastleigh/Chandler’s Ford (partial closure)
- Swanmore College, Swanmore (partial closure)
- Grateley Primary School, Grateley (partial closure)
- Eggar’s School, Alton (partial closure)
- Cranbourne, Basingstoke (partial closure)
- Bardwell School, Bicester, north Oxfordshire (fully closed Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25)
- Icknield Community College, Watlington, South Oxfordshire (fully closed Wednesday, June 24 to Friday, June 26)
- Cheney School, Oxford (partial closure from 1.15pm Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25)
- Sutton Courtenay Church of England Primary School, Abingdon (closed from 12pm on Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25)
- Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary School, Wallingford, South Oxfordshire (closed from 1pm on Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25)
- Didcot Girls' School, Didcot, South Oxfordshire (closed from 12.15pm on Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25)
- Gillotts School, Henley, South Oxfordshire (closed from 12.35pm on Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25)
- Hagbourne Church of England Primary School, Didcot, South Oxfordshire (closed from 12pm on Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25)
- Ladygrove Park Primary School, Didcot, South Oxfordshire (closed from 12pm on Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25)
- Stephen Freeman Primary School, Didcot, South Oxfordshire (closed from 12pm on Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25)
- Thameside Primary School, Caversham, South Oxfordshire (closed from 11.30am on Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25)
- Bishops Lydeard Church School, Somerset (closed from 12.30pm)
- St Dunstan's School, Somerset (fully closed)
- Reckleford Infant School and Nursery, Somerset (closed from 1pm)
- St Andrew's Church School, Somerset (closed from 12.30pm)
- St James Church School, Somerset (closed from 12.30pm)
- Staplegrove Church School, Somerset (closed from 12.30pm)
- Norton Fitzwarren Church School, Somerset (closed from 12.30pm)
