Teachers are relying on their own fans and parents are pushing to fund their own air conditioning installations in London schools as temperatures soar to 37C.
More than 60 schools across London were reportedly forced to close or shorten the school day because of June’s extreme heat, while many others relaxed uniform rules and adapted lessons to help pupils cope. Across England and Wales, more than 1,000 schools were disrupted by the heatwave.
Angelica, a teacher in north London, said conditions in many classrooms become unbearable during hot weather.
She said: “We have almost no fans unless staff have brought in their own.
“There’s maybe three or four rooms with AC – the majority are saunas.”
Lucy, a teacher in west London, said a portion of her school is equipped for the heat.
She said: “Only the new classrooms have aircon but most of the classrooms remain non-air-conditioned.
“There are not even fans provided. They try to move classes around so the ones that get really hot are not used.”
One Twickenham parent, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed he has spent years urging his child’s school to install air conditioning in larger spaces where pupils gather.
Last year, he and other parents offered to help fund portable air conditioning units, but said the proposal stalled after concerns were raised about where the equipment would be stored during winter.
“I personally don’t get it,” he said. “Air conditioning is 80 years old, very low-tech, a simple solution.
“You plug it in and that’s it.”
The parent added he is hoping a renewed effort by families this year will prove more successful.
He argued investing in cooling equipment would be less disruptive than schools reducing hours or asking parents to collect children early.
He said: “It would cost between £2,000 and £3,000. I’m willing to put in £100 or £150,”
“It’s much cheaper than other arrangements when there is no school, like childminders or not being able to work.”
The concerns were echoed by the National Education Union, which has called for urgent investment in school buildings to cope with rising temperatures.
General secretary Daniel Kebede said: “Air conditioning now needs to be rolled out to schools to deal with the health risks associated with extreme heat events.
“[Without greater investment] we can expect more disruption to pupils’ learning” as heatwaves become more frequent.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged schools are increasingly having to deal with more frequent extreme weather.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4‘s Today programme, she said: “These extremes of weather both hot and cold have proved they’re here to stay… and it demonstrates the importance of investing in our schools so they’re better equipped.”
London has experienced 59 days above 30°C in the last decade, which is almost as many as in the previous two decades combined.
Many schools have introduced measures including relaxed uniform rules, extra water breaks and moving lessons to cooler areas where possible.
However, parents and teachers say many buildings were not designed for the temperatures now being experienced during summer heatwaves.
“It’s a very easy problem with an easy solution,” the Twickenham parent said.
Featured image credit: Unsplash
Join the discussion