Urgent: School Closure Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June due to Extreme Heat

As you are no doubt aware, the Met Office has issued a red alert for extreme heat for the middle of this week, with temperatures now predicted to reach as high as 39°C.

We have reviewed our risk assessment in light of this unprecedented warning and have determined that the school cannot open safely on Wednesday 24th June and Thursday 25th June. The vast majority of our classrooms do not have air conditioning, and during extreme heat, room temperatures can rise significantly above the temperature outside. 

Despite our planned mitigations, we do not believe we can ensure everyone remains sufficiently cool and hydrated to be safe on site during these two days.

Year 10 Exams – we realise that the year 10 students are in the middle of their 2nd week of exams. We did consider keeping the school open for these students but felt, on reflection, that the sports hall would be very uncomfortable, and the students would be best served by postponing the exams scheduled for these days. Please keep an eye on Satchel for further updates.

Remote Learning. To ensure continuity of education work will be set for students using Satchel. This allows students and staff to manage their workloads flexibly.

Please do ensure your child knows how to keep themselves safe during this period, drinking plenty, staying in the shade and avoiding rivers and other open water due to the dangers of cold water shock as highlighted by the recent tragedies.

I strongly urge all families to go through this guidance together so as the young people are fully aware of the dangers of this extreme weather.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this decision will cause your family. We had hoped to avoid this outcome, but the severity of the red weather warning necessitates that we prioritise the safety of our entire school community.