UK schools begin to cut hours and close early as rare red heat warning spreads

Schools across parts of the UK are beginning to alter timetables before the peak of a rare red extreme-heat warning, with some shortening days, easing uniform rules and others closing altogether.

The Met Office has issued a red warning for Wednesday and Thursday, June 24 and 25, covering parts of England and Wales. Forecasters have warned that temperatures could rise above 37C, with some places possibly reaching 38C to 40C.

The warning is only the second red heat warning the Met Office has issued, and the first to include Wales. The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a red heat health alert for six regions of England from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday.

Schools begin to adjust

A number of schools have already moved to reduce disruption before the hottest period arrives.

Wren Academy in Enfield is reported to be finishing at 1:50pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with afternoon remote learning and cancelled after-school clubs.

Kingdown School in Warminster is reported to be dismissing students at 12:25pm from Monday through Thursday.

Falkland Primary School in Newbury is allowing pupils to wear PE kits while it waits for further advice on whether closures will be needed.

Isebrook School in Kettering is reported to be closing fully on Wednesday and Thursday.

Why the warning matters

Officials have warned that the heat could trigger serious illness, significant disruption to daily life and strain on transport and infrastructure. That makes schools one of the most exposed parts of public life, because they have to weigh pupil and staff safety, travel conditions, staffing levels and the practical challenge of keeping classrooms open in extreme temperatures.

The reported response from schools also shows how quickly that calculation is happening before the peak heat itself has arrived. In some cases, institutions are changing the length of the day. In others, they are relaxing uniform rules or closing altogether.

The Department for Education position reported in coverage is that decisions on closures are for individual schools rather than local authorities.

What happens next

More schools may still announce changes before Wednesday as the heat peak approaches. That could mean further shortened days, full closures, remote-learning arrangements or uniform changes depending on local conditions and each school’s policy.

The Met Office and UKHSA may also update the warning area, severity or timing if the forecast changes. For now, the alert window remains centered on Wednesday and Thursday, when the most intense heat is expected.

The episode is becoming an early test of how schools respond when a rare red heat warning lands during term time, with parents, staff and local transport services all likely to feel the impact.