The Isle of Wight Council says no schools have notified it of any closures tomorrow (Wednesday) despite forecasts of exceptionally high temperatures across the Island.
With temperatures expected to soar on Wednesday – potentially reaching 38c in some central parts of the Island – concerns have been raised by parents about conditions inside classrooms and whether school trips and activities could be affected.
The local authority has stressed that there is no legal maximum temperature for school classrooms in the UK, but schools have a duty to safeguard the health and wellbeing of pupils during periods of hot weather.
Measures available to schools include encouraging children to stay hydrated, adapting activities, improving ventilation where possible and making sensible adjustments to the school day if required.
The Isle of Wight Council has also said that decisions regarding trips and other activities are made by individual schools based on up-to-date risk assessments.
If any plans need to change, parents and carers will be contacted directly by their child’s school.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has said:
“We understand concerns during periods of very hot weather.
Article continues below this advertisement “There is no set legal maximum temperature for school classrooms in the UK. However, schools have a duty to ensure pupil health and safety and are expected to take proportionate steps in response to the conditions.
“This includes measures such as encouraging hydration, adapting activities, improving ventilation where possible, and making sensible adjustments to the school day if needed.
“Decisions about school trips and activities are made by individual schools based on up-to-date risk assessments. If any plans are affected, parents and carers will be contacted directly by the school.
“There have been no school closure notifications as of yet for today, nor tomorrow.”
