Urgent retrofitting needed as schools become 'heat traps' in hot weather

The article examines the growing crisis of overheating in UK school buildings as temperatures rise, with some institutions recording indoor temperatures exceeding 40°C during recent heatwaves. Architect Harry Paticas identifies systemic design flaws across both historic and modern school estates, including single glazing, safety-restricted windows that cannot open fully, and glass atriums installed during the Building Schools for the Future programme that create 'Kew hothouse' conditions. These structural deficiencies leave pupils and staff struggling to learn and work in dangerously hot conditions, with tarmac playgrounds radiating additional heat. The piece highlights how well-intentioned design choices—from 1950s public health-inspired natural light maximisation to contemporary architectural aesthetics—have inadvertently created environments ill-suited to modern climate realities. With inadequate ventilation systems and building fabrics that trap rather than dissipate heat, schools urgently require capital investment and retrofitting strategies to ensure they remain safe, functional spaces capable of supporting education throughout increasingly hot summers.