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  "path": "/2026/06/23/dozens-schools-forced-close-ahead-temperatures-reaching-40c-28887075/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-23T06:28:28.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
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    "schools have been forced to close",
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  "textContent": "Some schools announced plans to close early beginning today (Picture: Getty)\n\nDozens of schools have been forced to close amid rare red warnings over extreme temperatures that are expected to hit record highs for June.\n\nA ‘heat-dome’ settling over western Europe could bring temperatures of up to 40C in some parts of England and Wales in the middle part of the week, the Met Office has said.\n\nThe hot conditions, which have been very rare in the UK until now, will be accompanied by high humidity and very warm nights, making it hard for people to recover overnight, the forecaster warned.\n\nA red weather warning for extreme heat covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham was issued by the Met Office from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday.\n\nScores of schools across England and Wales announced they would close or finish early later this week to protect pupils amid the extreme heat.\n\n##  Sign up for all of the latest stories\n\nStart your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens.\n\n## Which schools are closing in the heat?\n\nThe Buckingham School in Buckinghamshire said it will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and asked students to take part in online learning.\n\nThe weather is expected to be record-breaking (Picture: Getty)\n\nIn a statement on its website on Monday, the school said: ‘Because most of our buildings cannot be cooled adequately and there is little shade outside, we have taken the difficult decision to close the school site on both days (Wednesday and Thursday).\n\n‘All trips and other scheduled activities are also cancelled.’\n\nThe school, which has around 1,200 students until sixth form, said teachers will upload work online for pupils to complete.\n\n> @metrouk\n>\n> London could be hotter than parts of Spain this week. The red warning means ‘extreme heat’ and covers all of London, much of the south east, the Midlands, West Country and parts of Wales. Forecasters are warning that temperatures in the capital could soar towards 40°C as a major heatwave grips the UK, with the Met Office issuing rare extreme heat warnings and warning of potentially record-breaking conditions. Experts say the hottest days are expected in the middle of the week, with tropical nights making it difficult to cool down even after sunset. #heatwave #london #londonweather #ukweather\n>\n> ♬ DOJA – SATX\n\nSt John’s Marlborough in Wiltshire said it will close early on Tuesday and be shut all day on Wednesday and Thursday before re-opening on Friday.\n\nThe Dorcan Academy in Swindon, Wiltshire, said on-site learning will finish at 11.30am on Tuesday, and the school will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.\n\nOther schools in Sutton in south London and Haringey in north London have also been forced to close from Tuesday to Thursday.\n\nSome schools are set to close as early as lunch time today (Picture: Getty)\n\nSome schools will remain open this week but close at about lunchtime on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, including Pewsey Vale School, Dilton Marsh Primary and Malmesbury School in Wiltshire, Ditton Park Academy in Slough, Berkshire, The Bulmershe School in Reading, Berkshire, Cheam High School in Surrey and Sydenham School in London.\n\nMeanwhile, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said it has written to all its members with guidance on dealing with the heat this week, including the impact on pupils and staff, legal positions and when to consider closure.\n\nPaul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: ‘While there is no legal ‘upper limit’ for temperature in schools, (school leaders) will certainly be doing all they can to mitigate the effects of such high temperatures.’\n\nThe UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a red health warning for six regions of England – the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and the East of England – from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday.\n\nThis indicates ‘a risk to life for even the healthy population’ as well as impacts beyond health and social care, with potential effects on transport systems, food, water, energy supplies and businesses.\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Dozens of schools forced to close ahead of temperatures reaching 40°C"
}