British classrooms breach recommended maximum temperature for lessons
The highest peak indoor temperature recorded was in Cambridgeshire, with 29.6C in the classroom by the end of the school day
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Campaigners are warning of hot temperatures affecting children and teachers in classrooms as climate change drives more heatwaves.
It comes after research showed classrooms breached a recommended maximum temperature of 26C during the recent heatwave in late June.
The data found that, while there is no legal maximum temperature for schools or workplaces, temperatures in schools exceeded the 26C maximum which is advised by the National Education Union (NEU).
A study by climate campaign group Round Our Way worked with teachers in seven schools across England to put sensors in classrooms that recorded the temperature automatically every hour over a period of four weeks.
The period included the late June heatwave, when the UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a yellow heat health alert for most of England as temperatures climbed to 30C.
The highest peak indoor temperature recorded was in Cambridgeshire, with 29.6C in the classroom by the end of the school day, while schools in West Sussex and Suffolk recorded peaks of 28.3C and 28.2C respectively.
Roger Harding, director of Round Our Way, which describes itself as a not-for-profit supporting people impacted by climate change in the UK, said: “This data reveals the worryingly hot temperatures our children are starting to face in the classroom thanks to climate change.
“Hard-pressed teachers have told us about children this summer who have fainted or even vomited due to the high heat, and there are many more who simply struggle to concentrate.
“This has been a mild summer by recent standards, so it is scary to picture how bad this will get when temperatures well above 30°C return.”
He warned that schools, like many of the UK’s buildings, were not set up and funded to deal with the higher temperatures being seen because of climate change.
“The weather used to just be small talk but we now need our political leaders to ensure the country is better prepared for more extreme weather and to tackle the fossil fuel pollution that is causing it in the first place,” he said.
It comes after analysis from the Met Office shows the UK is seeing, on average, more frequent periods of hot weather and an increase in extreme rainfall, bringing challenges for infrastructure, health and wellbeing.
But the Government’s plan to adapt to the risks posed by climate change is currently being challenged in the High Court, by campaigners who claim the Tory administration’s July 2023 National Adaptation Programme (NAP) fails to properly respond to 61 climate change risks.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments