Caldicot School Stayed Open in Heatwave While Over 300 Others Closed or Changed Schedules

GB News reported that Caldicot School in Monmouthshire stayed open during the June heatwave even as attendance dropped to 33 percent on one of the hottest days. More than 300 schools across England and Wales closed or altered schedules after a rare red alert was issued across parts of the UK. Alun Ebenezer, headteacher of Caldicot School, said the country would never win a war again.

He added that people become snowflakey when temperatures rise here while showing empathy for those in the Middle East, Ukraine and war-torn countries. Ebenezer argued that school was the safest place for disadvantaged children because many homes lack air conditioning. The school allowed pupils to wear PE kit and brought in an ice-cream van.

Ebenezer said the last two days did not cover Macbeth or oxbow lakes but taught a hidden curriculum of resilience and pushing through. Chris Parry, head of Lewis School in Pengam, closed the school for two days after risk assessments found safety concerns in older buildings with poor ventilation. Parry said the job is to develop resilience while also creating a safe environment.

Laura Doel of NAHT Cymru said many older school buildings were ill-equipped for extremes of temperature and called on the Labour government to upgrade facilities more urgently. The Welsh Government confirmed it was working with local authorities and had recently announced funding for school maintenance.