Two of the Isle of Wight’s largest secondary schools are to close on Thursday as an unprecedented heatwave continues to grip the Island.
Carisbrooke College and Medina College have both confirmed they will shut their doors to pupils, citing safety concerns amid extreme temperatures. The closures come as a Met Office Red Extreme Heat Alert remains in force across the Isle of Wight until Friday evening.
In an email to parents, Carisbrooke College said conditions within school buildings, combined with reduced staffing levels due to childcare challenges, meant it could no longer safely remain fully open.
The school said it had attempted to stay open for as long as possible before making the decision to close.
Students will instead be provided with work through Google Classroom, with further details being issued directly to families.
The rare red-level alert warns of a significant risk to health and disruption to daily life, with temperatures forecast to remain exceptionally high across the Island over the coming days.
Parents are being urged to monitor school communications for further updates.
