Schools in England and Wales were today accused of 'mollycoddling' children and putting their safety at risk after thousands chose to shut because of the heatwave.
In a mixed picture across the UK, headteachers have either closed completely, sent children home early or made other adjustments such as relaxing uniform rules.
Fundraisers have even been launched to buy air conditioning units and fans for schools - with one parent teacher association raising more than £3,500 in 16 hours.
Some teachers have made early collections optional, with provisions made for students who cannot work at home or whose parents cannot collect them early.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has urged parents to send children to school if they remain open, warning 'every day of absence and lesson missed has a cost'.
