Britain faces extreme heat, dozens of schools suspend or shorten classes to protect students

Because of the heatwave expected to hit Britain in the coming days, dozens of schools in England and Wales have decided either to close their doors or limit teaching hours.

Among the schools that have publicly announced these measures is Buckingham School in Buckinghamshire, which will conduct classes online for two days. Likewise, St John’s Marlborough in Wiltshire has announced that it will remain closed until Friday.

Meanwhile, Dorcan Academy in Swindon has also announced that classes will end earlier, while the institution will remain closed for two days.

Similar decisions have also been taken by other schools in Wiltshire, Slough, Reading, Surrey and London, as education leaders try to reduce as much as possible the risks that high temperatures pose to students and staff.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has issued guidance on dealing with this situation, stressing that although there is no legally defined maximum temperature limit for schools, leaders must take every necessary step to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of students.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said school leaders will do everything possible to lessen the impact of the extreme temperatures, which are expected to reach unusual levels for Britain.