Gloucestershire schools shut as heatwave hits UK

A red extreme‑heat warning issued by the Met Office led to widespread school closures across Gloucestershire as temperatures peaked at 36.7 °C. Health concerns and unsafe classroom conditions prompted full closures at schools such as Abbeymead Primary, Hillside Primary, Longlevens Infant and Junior, and several special schools, while many other sites operated on reduced schedules or partial closures.

For Friday, schools announced a mix of reopenings, early‑dismissal times and continued full closures. Some institutions, like Balcarras School and St John’s C of E Academy, remained open, whereas others, including St Roses School and St Paul’s C of E Primary, stayed shut. The heatwave also contributed to broader disruptions, including a large wildfire in the Peak District, underscoring the wider impact on transport, energy and water services.