As debate continues over school closures and disruption during the heatwave, Independent readers are divided over where responsibility should lie when extreme temperatures make classrooms uncomfortable or potentially unsafe.
While some warned that shutting schools creates major childcare challenges for working families, others argued that children’s wellbeing should take priority as the UK adapts to increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat.
Many pushed back against the idea that parents are being left to “pick up the pieces”, arguing that caring for children is ultimately a parental responsibility and that schools should not be expected to solve every problem created by hot weather.
Others pointed out that overheated classrooms are genuinely unsuitable learning environments, with teachers and parents describing packed rooms, poor ventilation and temperatures that make it difficult for children to concentrate.
Some said schools should be willing to close when conditions become unsafe, while others suggested practical adaptations such as relaxed uniform rules, earlier start times or improved cooling systems.
A number of readers focused on longer-term solutions, including redesigning school buildings, investing in air conditioning and even shifting the school calendar to avoid the hottest weeks of the year.
Here’s what you had to say:
Parents are responsible for their children
“Parents are left to pick up the pieces”. As the father of five now-adult children, I find this attitude extraordinary. You are solely responsible for everything involving your child. The idea that the state – that is, other people – should have a role is fine, but the idea that it is required to do so, so that your playing a role is unusual and your being required to do so is reprehensible, is bizarre.
soccerdad
Change the school year to avoid the heat
At some point, the Department for Education will need to think about changing the school terms so that the summer term ends at the end of May – and maybe lengthen the other terms slightly to make up for it.
The worst of the heat will be avoided, and it’s much cheaper than installing air conditioners and paying energy costs in every school in the UK. It needs more thought, clearly, but I think it will happen.
Adele
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Spending on schools is an investment
The statement “the cost would be astronomical” sums up our problem as a country nicely. We have been conditioned to think of spending as a cost, and rarely as an investment.
Had the government committed to investing in air conditioning for schools during Covid, we would not be having this discussion now, not to mention helping to prevent the damage that isolating children had on their mental and physical health, and, of course, on their education.
These are true costs, far more important than finances. But financially, the poor decisions will come back to bite as the several million young adults caught up in the disaster enter the workforce.
MPH
Common sense is needed
In Europe, assessment for closing places of work, schools, etc. is based on heat stress (often measured using the WBGT index, which factors in humidity and other conditions), the type of activity being done, and whether protective measures have been implemented.
I pity the teachers and children sitting in non-air-conditioned environments this week, and I hope schools respond with common sense.
Moo100
The journey home is the real concern
I did the early collection yesterday – and the main concern was never kids at school – it was the 1.5-mile journey home in peak heat. School is supervised and indoors; closing early just pushes children out into the hottest part of the day.
Whether that’s safe comes down to having a reliable car with air con. Even that takes a while to cool down, and is challenging with very young ones.
Anon
A textbook example of British hypocrisy
Here we have a textbook example of British hypocrisy. In Europe, many schools have closed for the week and the UK should follow their example. The agonising about whether UK schools should remain open is primarily motivated by concern about parents getting to work and has little to do with genuine concern for children’s education. Recall all the fretting during the lockdowns: the rhetoric focused on lost learning, but a considerable part of it was about parents travelling to work.
Musil
Relax school uniform rules
I’m in Scotland, where it won’t hit the really high temperatures, but my daughter’s school has already decided the kids can wear shorts and T-shirts. It makes sense not to at least enforce uniform policies.
Pickwick
Private privilege and public squalor
If any parents refuse to send their kids to school in these dangerous conditions, I’d support them 100 per cent. Expect increasing trouble in the future between heavy-handed enforcement of attendance laws and parents concerned with their kids’ wellbeing. I’m curious to know if the classrooms in Eton or Haberdashers’ are air-conditioned. If so, it would be an indictment of private privilege and public squalor.
Basenji21
Spain breaks up before the hottest weather
Schools have already broken up for the long summer holiday here in Spain, precisely because of this problem. No AC and extreme heat. Alternatively, early starts and finishes may help. Of course, with many parents dependent on childcare, any change would create issues in itself.
nocomment
It won’t be any cooler at home
Why do people think schools need to close? It is not going to be any cooler at home. No wonder we have such falling standards in education compared to many other countries – they do not shut their schools for a bit of snow or sun.
Hairyferrit
Move the summer holidays to July
The best answer would be to alter the school holidays to July rather than August.
An easy switch to make, as the school year would be the same length. At worst, it would affect one exam year group. But that would just require compromise by teachers to work a few extra weeks (I would happily do that) or exam boards to adapt just like they did during Covid.
But the best thing we can do is change the school holidays to the hottest months of the year (which is rarely August).
Tal
UK buildings are not designed for this heat
Other countries manage the heat better because they are used to it. The majority of the buildings in the UK are built to retain heat, unlike Mediterranean countries, for example, which are designed to do the opposite. This is unprecedented heat and the appropriate measures should be taken.
Bobby McGee
Are closures really for children?
Are schools closing for the sake of the children, or is it another excuse for the teachers?
Those parents who are moaning, have you got air conditioning at home?
At least the pupils are being kept occupied.
What about parents who work? They can’t just have a day off work.
How do you think other countries manage with the heat?
KittyKat
Temperatures rise quickly in classrooms
Modern classrooms are (too) small and students are packed in tightly, generally 30+ sitting shoulder to shoulder. Windows are often large, so the rooms are sealed shut or limited to very small openings for safety. There is no air con and very little mechanical ventilation. Add a few computers and a projector and temperatures rise quickly.
anonymous
A teacher’s view from a sweltering classroom
I was in a classroom that measured 29C – the sweat was literally dropping off me and the 30 children packed in were wilting.
The school is a hundred years old and most rooms only have about two windows that haven’t been painted over for so long that they won’t open (and only let in boiling air anyway).
It’s even hotter outside. For the next two days we have the option for children to be collected at 1.15pm if parents are able to.
Unless schools are fitted with actual air conditioning, like most offices are these days, I don’t know what the alternative is – inconvenient as I recognise this is for some families.
Alex
School closures puts parents in an impossible situation
I do feel that schools closing down is extremely wrong. It puts parents in the impossible situation of having to suddenly leave work without notice. That may be okay for everyone in the public sector who has feather-bedded employment contracts. But for anybody in the commercial sector who has to perform to earn their wages, it’s a major disaster to suddenly lose a day’s work and pay.
TomHawk
Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.
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