Pupils Suffer Heatstroke in 40C+ Classrooms as Schools Urged to Adapt Buildings

Recent heatwaves have exposed the vulnerability of school buildings to extreme temperatures, with classrooms recording conditions above 40C and both pupils and staff reporting heatstroke, nausea and severe headaches. The crisis has forced teachers to implement improvised cooling methods, from laying younger pupils on floors covered in damp towels to providing trays of water for older students to cool their feet. The situation highlights growing concerns about the suitability of existing school infrastructure for a changing climate, as inadequate ventilation and poor thermal efficiency turn learning spaces into health hazards during hot weather. Education leaders are now demanding urgent action to retrofit buildings with proper cooling systems, shading and ventilation to protect children's wellbeing and ensure classrooms remain safe places to learn. For local government cabinet members, the issue raises critical questions about capital investment priorities, the condition of the school estate, and the statutory duty of care owed to pupils during extreme weather events. The Department for Education faces mounting pressure to provide funding and guidance so councils and academy trusts can adapt buildings before the next heatwave strikes.