Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to safeguard the health and wellbeing of children in schools during periods of extreme heat.

The government’s position is that schools should remain open wherever it is safe, allowing as many pupils as possible to attend rather than applying a fixed maximum temperature for closure.

Responsible bodies must make decisions based on the suitability of their buildings and mitigations, ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils and staff. Under workplace regulations, temperatures must be reasonable, and leaders should regularly assess risks and take appropriate action during heat.

Hot weather can usually be managed through practical measures such as ventilation, hydration, timetable adjustments and modified activities.

Attendance is vital for learning, wellbeing and safeguarding, and absence can disproportionately affect disadvantaged pupils and families.

Closure decisions should therefore be made locally by school and trust leaders, with closure only in exceptional circumstances where safety cannot be maintained.