With the Met Office issuing amber and red heat health alerts this week – and hotter summers becoming the norm rather than the exception – it is worth having a practical plan for managing heat in school. This is a short, practical guide for school leaders and teachers. The DfE is clear: schools should stay open during hot weather wherever possible. But staying open does not mean carrying on as normal. Here is what actually helps.
During hot weather, we don’t normally advise schools to close. Hot weather can usually be managed safely. — DfE Education Hub, updated June 2026
There is no legal maximum classroom temperature that forces a shutdown. Headteachers must ensure reasonable conditions and take steps to keep pupils safe.
The classroom
- Open windows and doors as early as possible to release stored heat before the day begins.
- Check outdoor areas for pockets of shade (or warmth) – be wary of surfaces that may heat up
- Close blinds or curtains on south and west-facing windows during the day to block direct sun. This is more effective than opening windows once the building has already heated up
- Cross-ventilation is the goal so open windows and doors on opposite sides of the room to create airflow rather than just letting warm air in
- Move desks away from direct sunlight if possible
- Switch to sedentary, calm activities – reading, discussion, written work. The DfE explicitly advises against vigorous physical activity on very hot days
- If you have fans, position them to draw air in from the cooler side of the building rather than just circulating warm air
- Keep lights off where possible as they generate heat
Outdoor time and playtimes
- Stagger playtimes if shade space is limited – divide year groups or classes so that all pupils can access shade rather than crowding everyone out at once
- Move playtime earlier in the morning when it is cooler, and reduce the length of outdoor time at the hottest part of the day (usually 11am-3pm)
- Identify and maximise shade – trees, buildings, temporary gazebos or parasols. If shade is genuinely inadequate, keep pupils indoors with structured activity
- No vigorous running games during peak heat, enforce this clearly and explain why to pupils
- Ensure water is freely available and actively encourage drinking throughout the day, not just at mealtimes
- Sunscreen: the DfE advises use of high-SPF sunscreen. Many schools ask parents to apply it before school; older pupils can reapply their own. Check your policy
Uniform and dress
- Consider relaxing uniform rules clearly and in advance so you can communicate to parents the night before a hot day so pupils come prepared
- Loose, light-coloured clothing is most effective.
- Encourage removal of blazers and jumpers – do not wait for pupils to ask
- PE kit is often more comfortable than school uniform in extreme heat, consider allowing it for the whole day
Pupils who are more vulnerable
- Children are more at risk of heat-related illness than adults – take this seriously for all pupils, not just those with identified medical needs
- Pupils with existing medical conditions, those taking certain medications, or those with complex health needs need individual consideration. Check any health care plans and brief relevant staff
- Watch for signs of heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, weakness, cold or pale skin, weak pulse, nausea or vomiting. Move the pupil to a cool place, give water, and contact parents. If symptoms are severe or the pupil loses consciousness, call 999
- Staff are also vulnerable – check in with colleagues, especially those in rooms with poor ventilation
School trips in the heat
Hot weather requires extra thought for school trips, particularly those involving significant outdoor time, travel in non-air-conditioned coaches, or physical activity.
- Check the forecast before departure and have a clear decision-making framework for postponing or curtailing trips if conditions deteriorate
- Ensure water is available throughout. On a hot day, the recommended intake for children is significantly higher than normal
- Plan shade into the itinerary and identify where pupils can rest out of direct sun at each venue
- Avoid the hottest part of the day (11am-3pm) for outdoor activities. Schedule indoor visits or rest time in this window where possible
- Brief accompanying adults clearly on heat exhaustion symptoms and what to do
- Consider whether very young pupils or those with medical needs should attend on extreme heat days – discuss with parents and be clear about the school’s policy
The bigger picture
Hot weather in schools is no longer an occasional inconvenience, schools are going to be dealing with heat more and more as it is a recurring feature of a changing climate – one that is going to require structural responses as well as short-term management.
The DfE is now actively telling schools to plan for hotter summers as part of their climate action planning – including improving buildings, increasing shade, and thinking about how the school day itself might need to adapt. The Met Office’s Heat-Health Alert system is free to sign up to and gives advance warning so schools can plan ahead rather than react.
- Sign up for Heat-Health Alerts
- Register at: ukhsa.gov.uk/heat-health-alerts
- educationhub.blog.gov.uk
Managing heat is part of climate action – and it will become more and more common. Schools that are thinking ahead about shade, ventilation, building design, and the structure of the school day are doing exactly what a climate action plan should prompt.
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References and further reading
UKHSA — Looking after children during hot weather
UKHSA — Heatwave Plan for England
Met Office / UKHSA — Heat-Health Alert sign-up
Surrey Education Services — Hot weather in schools: preparing for high temperatures (2025)
DfE — Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy: planning for hotter summers
