1,000 U.K. schools close in late June heat wave

More than 1,000 schools across the U.K. closed for days or dismissed students early in late June when temperatures set records across Europe. Officials cited indoor conditions that made continued instruction impossible in buildings without air conditioning or functional windows.

Conditions inside classrooms Teachers described south-facing windows that admit intense sunlight but open only a few inches or not at all. One instructor said even routine activities such as using an oven became unworkable once temperatures reached 35.9 C (96.6 F).

Students and staff relied on handheld fans, water sprayers, drawn blinds, and, in some cases, sitting with bare feet in buckets of water. Union representatives reported instances of teachers passing out while attempting to conduct lessons.

Building age and funding limits Many affected buildings date from the 1950s to 1970s and contain asbestos, complicating any installation of cooling systems. A head teacher noted that a section of his school constructed in 2017 performed worse in heat than the original 1908 structure with its high ceilings and thick brick walls.

Annual repair budgets at some schools amount to roughly 7,000 pounds, while estimates for adding air conditioning reach 20,000 pounds. Officials have identified passive measures such as external shading and tree planting as lower-cost options under consideration.

Government advisers' assessment Britain's Climate Change Committee stated in a May report that indoor temperatures could reach 35 C on 70 percent more days per year by 2050 under 2 C of global warming. The panel recommended low-carbon cooling systems, including heat pumps, for schools, hospitals, and care homes most at risk within the next 25 years.