Campaigners are sounding the alarm over “worryingly hot” temperatures in classrooms, as climate change is blamed for an increase in heatwaves that could affect both students and teachers.
Following a recent study, it has been revealed that during the scorching heatwave in late June, classroom temperatures soared past the recommended 26C limit. The research, conducted by the climate advocacy group Round Our Way, involved placing temperature sensors in seven schools across England, which recorded hourly temperatures over four weeks.
This period of monitoring included the sweltering late June heatwave, prompting the UK’s Health Security Agency to issue a yellow heat health alert for most of England with mercury levels hitting a sizzling 30C, reports the Mirror.
The findings indicated that in six out of the seven schools studied, temperatures exceeded the 26C threshold suggested by the National Education Union. A staggering 29.6C was recorded in a Cambridgeshire classroom at the close of the school day, while West Sussex and Suffolk schools experienced peaks of 28.3C and 28.2C, respectively.
Roger Harding, director of Round Our Way, which positions itself as a charitable organisation aiding those affected by climate change in the UK, highlighted the concern: “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 30C 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.
