Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that schools in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) across England are equipped with adequate (i) cooling and (ii) ventilation systems to protect (A) pupils and (B) staff during heatwaves.

The responsible body (which may be a local authority, academy trust, or voluntary-aided body) must ensure the health, safety and welfare of pupils and staff, including during hot weather. The department supports this through guidance and resources, including the Education Hub, which published hot weather advice on 16 June 2025.

The department also provides emergency planning guidance for education and childcare settings, covering extreme heat. The UK Health Security Agency offers additional advice for schools and early years settings on managing heat-related health risks.

To improve indoor air quality, the department distributed CO₂ monitors to all teaching spaces in England in 2021/2023. Settings with high readings could apply for air cleaning units. Over 9,000 were provided to more than 1,300 settings.

Annual capital funding is also allocated to improve school buildings, including ventilation and sustainability measures.

All guidance applies across England.