June heatwave cost pupils in England and Wales 15m lesson hours, study reports

The short version

• A study by DeSmog found that schoolchildren in England and Wales lost over 15 million lesson hours when an eight-day heatwave forced early dismissals or closures at more than 1,700 schools.[The Guardian]
• Classroom temperatures climbed above 40C, with an education union representative reporting cases of fainting, heat stress, and hospital treatment.[The Guardian]
• Researchers compiled the estimates using news reports, artificial intelligence, and official government pupil absence records.[The Guardian]
• The Department for Education defended school responses and stated it is investing to improve infrastructure resilience against a warming climate.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• A study by DeSmog found that pupils in England and Wales missed at least 15 million hours of teaching due to heat-related closures or early finishes during the June heatwave.[The Guardian]
• Over 1,700 schools were forced to close completely or send pupils home early as indoor temperatures exceeded 40C.[The Guardian]
• National Education Union safety representative Jenny Cooper reported that pupils and staff experienced fainting and severe heat stress.[The Guardian]
• DeSmog compiled data on affected schools using news reports, AI, and government records on student absences.[The Guardian]
• The Department for Education stated schools managed safely and noted ongoing investments to bolster climate resilience across school estates.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Pupils missed 15m hours of school time during UK’s June heatwave, study findsThe Guardian - World