We're Havin a Heatwave - a bloody nuisance heatwave

This didn’t happen in my day. Whether that’s a good thing or not, well, that is another question. I am referring to the news that most schools in my area of South Wales ( and all the others for all I know) are closed today and tomorrow due to the extreme temperatures.

I was 12 in 1976 and distinctly remember being told to some into school every day but being allowed to wear civilian clothing. Then in my 37 years as a teacher the two schools I worked in never closed for extreme heat, even in 2022 which was a similar situation. Trust me, school managements and their governing boards appreciate just how serious the disruption caused by school closures is. It really is – and should be - a last resort. So how have we come to the situation that this time, the schools are closing.

Well, I don’t know, but I do have my theories about this. Logically, when you remove all else and get right down to the essentials, the children should not be at more risk by coming into school. In fact, there is an argument that with parents at work, some of the children will be at more risk from the conditions with the schools closed. We can’t ignore the huge disruption for parents. But. . . I know that this might be a controversial thing to say, but the situation may well have been brought on by the actions of a growing number of parents themselves with their own actions and attitudes. There is no doubt in my mind that through the noughties and 2010s parents gained more and more power. In some ways that’s a good thing. However power can be abused.

Personally, I can’t help wondering if the school closures are, at least in part, prompted by fears over parent reactions and, yes, potential litigation if children become ill through the heat while they are in school. And before you say – oh, surely they couldn’t do that – you need to know that in many cases, yes, they could and yes, they would. Of course, I haven’t spoken to any headteacher or chairman of Governors who has had to make this decision so I don’t know if this has entered into their thinking. But I’ll be honest, yes, maybe it is hotter than previous heatwaves, but why this makes schools less safe than pupils’ own homes, I really don’t know.

My thoughts go out to all my brethren and sistren who have been at the chalkface this week in this weather – not easy at all. Summer holidays are on the way.

We’re in work at the NHS today, not that this is relevant to the issue.