Hundreds of schools in England and Wales to close in heatwave

Hundreds of schools in England and Wales are expected to close or alter their operating hours this week due to extreme heat, a move supported by education unions who deem the conditions dangerous for students and staff. School leaders began informing parents of potential closures on Wednesday and Thursday, with many institutions deciding to end the school day earlier to mitigate the impact of the afternoon's peak temperatures. This decision reflects concerns over student and staff well-being in environments that may lack adequate cooling infrastructure, highlighting a growing challenge for educational institutions in adapting to increasingly severe weather events. The closures aim to prioritize safety and prevent heat-related illnesses, underscoring the immediate impact of climate change on daily operations within the education sector.