Any schools or colleges in 'red heat alert' 39C warning area must consider shutting for safety, union says07:27, 24 Jun 2026Updated 07:34, 24 Jun 2026All schools in areas where there is a red heat health alert have been told to carry out an ‘immediate test’ before deciding whether to close today. A rare red warning for extreme heat will come into force in parts of England and Wales from 9am today and will last until 9pm on Thursday‌The warning is the most severe level of alert, meaning the weather could bring a risk to life. Hundreds of schools across England and Wales are closing fully or partially, and rail passengers are being warned to avoid non-essential travel.‌The Department for Education (DfE) said: “Red Alerts indicate possible significant health risks to the wider population, so schools and early years settings should review actions to manage heat for all pupils and staff.”‌The NASUWT union said the red alert means schools must make ‘an immediate, additional risk assessment’ - which could mean a closure. Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) advised schools to carry out appropriate risk assessments and implement reasonable adjustments based on their individual circumstances. It said: “It is acknowledged that this extreme heat poses an increased risk for Special schools. Our Public Health (PH) colleagues can provide additional support should it be felt necessary. “The rare red weather warning affects London, parts of the Midlands, south-east Wales and southern England. The Met Office says there is a risk of serious illness or danger to life in those impacted areas.Loss of power and essential services like water are also likely, due to a greater risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment. The Met Office also warns of delays on roads, trains and plains.‌Temperatures are forecast to rise to around 37C or 38C in southern England, and a maximum of 39C on Wednesday is not out of the question.Queensbury Academy in Bedfordshire told parents today: “I am writing to let you know that, following a trustwide risk assessment and careful consideration of the latest guidance, the school will be closed on Wednesday the 24th of June and Thursday the 25th of June due to the Met Office Red Extreme Heat Warning affecting our area. The school will remain open for vulnerable students.“I appreciate that an unexpected school closure can be difficult for families and may cause inconvenience. Please be assured that this decision has not been taken lightly. The safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff must remain our highest priority and we have carefully considered all available options before reaching this conclusion.”‌Union NASUWT has told head teachers: “A Met Office Red Alert indicates that it is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. People should avoid travelling where possible and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.“Where a Red Alert is issued for extreme heat, school and college employers must ensure that an immediate, additional risk assessment is carried out and the control measures indicated are enacted. These could include full or partial closure of the site if the risk assessment deems this necessary.“The risk assessment must also take account of travel to and from the site for learners and staff and the potential for disruption to public transport systems later in the day.”‌Worcestershire County Council said: “While responsibility for risk assessments and actions to reduce risk, including changes to school hours, rests with individual schools and their governing bodies, we expect all schools to review their arrangements and take appropriate steps to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children, young people and staff.”On schools closing the DfE said: “During hot weather, we don’t normally advise schools to close. This is because school attendance is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential, and hot weather can usually be managed safely.“School leaders should make sure they take any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable, and the heat-health alerts can guide this.”A red heat health alert has also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), from 01:00 on Wednesday until 23:00 on Thursday.‌Prof Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UKHSA, said this was only the second time they had issued the red heat health warning - the last time in July 2022.Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said the warning signalled a “very widespread threat” from the heat, including threats “to people who generally think of themselves as not being particularly threatened by heat”.“Often we are warning about the vulnerable, the elderly, the young, but in this case we’re also warning otherwise healthy people in their prime of life to take very cautious steps, because this heat is going to be quite intense and can have very serious life threatening effects even in people who are completely fit,” he said.‌Matthew Hopkins of the acute and ambulance network for the NHS alliance told the Today programme he expected demand on emergency services to increase over the next few days during the extremely hot weather period. More than 300 schools across England and Wales are planning to be either partially or fully closed this week because of the weather.Others are closing early on Wednesday and Thursday to protect children from the heat, with some pupils being told they can wear PE kit rather than full school uniforms for those days.Schools closed or partially closed on Wednesday - full listLondonSydenham School, LewishamFielding Primary School and Nursery, EalingCheam High School, SuttonOaks Park High School, SuttonBelmont Junior School, HaringeyArchbishop Tenison's Church of England High School, CroydonAll Saints Benhilton Primary SchoolWren Academy, Enfield‌BristolAshton Gate Primary SchoolBadminton School,Badock's Wood E-ACT AcademyBishop Road Primary SchoolBristol Cathedral Choir SchoolCathedral Primary SchoolChester Park Infant and Junior SchoolCotham SchoolE-ACT Fairlawn Primary SchoolEaston Primary SchoolElmfield School For Deaf ChildrenFairfield High SchoolFilton Avenue Nursery SchoolHolymead Primary SchoolNorth Star 265Nova Primary SchoolOrchard SchoolRedcliffe Nursery School & Children's CentreRedland Green SchoolSoundwell AcademySouthville Primary SchoolSt Bernadette Catholic Primary SchoolWestbury-On-Trym Church of England AcademyWillow Park Primary SchoolHampshireCrestwood Community SchoolFour Lanes SchoolSwanmore CollegeTestbourne Community SchoolJohn Hanson Community SchoolPeter Symonds CollegeRucstall Primary SchoolHenry Tyndale SchoolPurbrook Park SchoolWoodcroft PrimaryThe Clere SchoolHatch Warren Infant SchoolHarrow Way Community SchoolStoke Park Infant SchoolSmannell Field SchoolGrateley Primary SchoolPetersgate Infant SchoolBrighton Hill Community SchoolRanvilles Infant SchoolPerins SchoolItchen Abbas Primary SchoolWyvern CollegeBrookfield Community SchoolLocks Heath Infant SchoolThe Costello SchoolSt Faith's Church of England Primary SchoolHorndean Technology CollegeBuckinghamshireGerrards Cross SchoolHughenden Primary SchoolPrinces Risborough Primary SchoolLey Hill SchoolFarnham Common Infant SchoolChalfonts Community CollegeDenham Village SchoolHaydon Abbey School and Pre-SchoolDropmore Infant SchoolKingsbrook View AcademyIver Heath Junior SchoolBedgrove Infant SchoolThe Misbourne SchoolIver Heath Infant School and NurserySt Paul's Church of England Combined SchoolStoke Poges SchoolFarnham Common Junior SchoolOverstone Combined SchoolMarsworth Church of England Infant SchoolBrookmead School, closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and ThursdayBearbrook Combined SchoolBuckingham Park Church of England Primary SchoolBuckingham Primary SchoolAsh Hill Primary SchoolSteeple Claydon SchoolBuckinghamshire PrimaryGreen Ridge Primary AcademySt Mary's Farnham Royal Primary SchoolIver Village Junior SchoolWest Wycombe Combined SchoolThe Disraeli School and Children's CentreWeston Turville Church of England SchoolGreat Kimble Church of England SchoolGreat Kingshill Church of England Combined SchoolTurnfurlong Infant SchoolBierton Church of England Combined SchoolDenham Green E-Act Primary AcademyOakridge SchoolQuainton Church of England SchoolWooburn Green Primary SchoolWaddesdon Village Primary SchoolChalfont Valley E-ACT Primary AcademyChepping View Primary AcademyIvingswood AcademyOrchard View Primary AcademyBedgrove Junior SchoolWaddesdon Church of England SchoolWaterside Primary Academy‌SomersetShepton Beauchamp Church SchoolSt Mary and St Peter’s SchoolNerrols Primary SchoolBishops Lydeard Church SchoolThe Mendip SchoolFiveways Special SchoolKingsmead SchoolWhitstone SchoolSt Dunstan’s SchoolWadham Community SchoolReckleford Infant School and NurserySt Andrew’s Church SchoolSt James Church SchoolElmhurst Junior SchoolStaplegrove Church SchoolNorton-Sub-Hamdon Church SchoolNorton Fitzwarren Church SchoolMeare Village Primary SchoolKingsbury Episcopi Primary SchoolKeinton Mandeville Primary SchoolHerne View Primary SchoolHigh Ham Primary SchoolHorsington Church SchoolCurry Rivel Primary SchoolChidden Fitzpaine Primary SchoolCheddar First School,St Joseph's Primary SchoolBurnham-on-Sea Infants School,Westover Green Community SchoolCharlton Mackrell Primary SchoolCreech St Michael School,St Nicholas Primary SchoolLympsham AcademyNether Stowey Primary SchoolPuriton Primary SchoolSt Pauls Junior SchoolSt Cuthberts Junior SchoolSt John and St Francis Church Primary SchoolWest Coker Primary SchoolBishop Fox's School, TauntonFairmead SchoolHolway Park Primary SchooNorth Petherton Community PrimaryTor SchoolOxfordshireAll Saints Church of England Primary SchooBrightwell-Cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary SchoolCarterton Primary SchoolCheney SchoolDidcot Girls' SchoolDucklington Primary SchooEuropa School UKGillotts SchoolHagbourne Church of England Primary SchoolHailey Church of England Primary SchoolHarwell Primary SchoolJohn Watson SchoolLadygrove Park Primary SchoolLong Wittenham (Church of England) Primary SchoolNorthern House AcademyOrion AcademyShellingford Church of England (Voluntary Aided) SchoolSt Francis Church of England Primary SchoolStephen Freeman Primary SchoolStockham Primary SchoolSutton Courtenay Church of England Primary SchoolThe Oxford AcademyTrinity Church of England Primary SchoolValley Road SchoolWillowcroft Community SchoolGloucestershireArchway SchoolFinlay Community SchoolKingsholm PrimaryArticle continues belowDevonClyst Vale Community CollegeHolywell Church Of England SchoolOttery St Mary Primary SchoolThe Park Community SchoolThe Promise SchoolThe Shoreline AcademyTiverton High SchoolSussexMulberry AcademyHeathfield CollegeWalesCorneli Primary SchoolAfon-y-Felin Primary SchoolLlanwern High SchoolCardiff High SchoolNewport High School,Caerleon Lodge Hill Primary SchoolCentral Primary SchoolGodre'rgraig Primary SchoolLlangiwg Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Infant SchoolSt Therese's Catholic Primary SchoolTairgwaith Primary SchoolYGG Cwm NeddYGG PontardaweYGG RhosafanYnysfach Primary SchoolYsgol Hendrefelin