Plans to implement a national heatwave strategy for schools in England will not be introduced until 2028, despite widespread disruptions caused by rising temperatures this summer. Several schools closed early due to extreme heat, highlighting the growing challenge of maintaining safe learning environments amid climate change.
In May, the UK Government’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) advised that all schools should be equipped with air conditioning and a maximum indoor temperature should be established to protect students and staff. The committee warned that failure to address these issues could lead to significant loss of school days in coming years. However, ministers appear to be considering these recommendations only as part of the fourth “national adaptation programme” set for release in 2028. This delay means schools will face at least two more summers without a coordinated approach to heat resilience.
Educational leaders have criticized the slow pace of action. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, stressed the urgency of developing a heatwave plan, pointing out the current absence of temperature limits for school environments despite regulations existing for livestock transport. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, called for greater investment to modernize school buildings, recommending improvements such as enhanced ventilation, solar panels, insulation, waterproofing, and potentially air conditioning.
Government updates issued earlier this year set new standards for school buildings in England, mandating the installation of ground-source heat pumps to provide cooling in new and refurbished schools. However, these standards do not require air conditioning, and over a third of existing schools remain without it according to Department for Education (DfE) data. The CCC has accepted the use of heat pumps as a viable alternative to air conditioning but acknowledged that significant funding would be necessary to implement such systems more widely.
The DfE emphasized its commitment through a £710 million renewal and retrofit program running through 2029-30, alongside nearly £20 billion allocated through 2034-35 for rebuilding more than 750 schools. Yet Whiteman noted that dedicated resources would be essential to ensure schools are adequately prepared for future climate risks. Currently, no specific funding is available for air conditioning units, requiring schools to divert capital budgets intended for maintenance. Compounding the challenge, the DfE’s overall capital budget faces an annual 1 percent reduction through 2029-30 to accommodate increased defense spending.
The CCC’s report projects that, without intervention, pupils could lose an average of 8.2 school days per year to heat-related disruptions by 2050. The committee also highlighted the impact of high temperatures on academic performance, estimating that exam pass rates drop by around 10 percent when tests are taken on days reaching 32°C compared to milder 22°C conditions. Baroness Brown, one of the government’s climate advisers, has proposed rescheduling exams to earlier in the year to mitigate heat effects.
Current government guidance for schools recommends practical measures such as ventilating classrooms during cooler times, closing windows once outdoor temperatures exceed indoor conditions, using blinds to block sunlight, and employing mechanical fans. Schools themselves have adopted various adjustments, including shifting lessons to cooler campus areas, relaxing uniform policies, rescheduling activities, and altering school hours.
A government spokesperson said that climate change poses a global challenge and affirmed ongoing efforts to assess its effects on education to prevent disruption to learning.