Hundreds of Schools Close Across England and Wales Amid Extreme Heatwave

Hundreds of schools across the south of England and Wales are set to close or amend their operating hours this week as temperatures soar to dangerous levels. Education unions have raised concerns about the safety of keeping schools open during the extreme heat, prompting headteachers to end days early to avoid the worst afternoon conditions. The closures highlight ongoing challenges regarding school building conditions and the ability of ageing infrastructure to cope with increasingly extreme weather. School leaders have been communicating with parents about the temporary measures, balancing the need to maintain education provision with duty of care responsibilities for pupils and staff wellbeing.