Parents advised to check Birmingham school websites for closures due to heatwave

Birmingham City Council sent out an advisory for parents to check ahead before sending out their children to school on Monday as heatwave temperatures continue to soar.

Parents have been urged to check with school websites in the morning in case of any school closures in place due to record-breaking temperatures.

A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council issued a statement saying parents should consult official school websites for any updates regarding closure notices for the week ahead.

The decision to close schools, due to the heatwave, remains with individual educational establishments and nurseries.

The council website states: “Please check direct with the school or nursery for up-to-date information. If you don’t know the type of school your child goes to, you can check from a list of Birmingham schools and nurseries.”

The heatwave temperatures for the coming week are expected to set new records and schools are already implementing cooling measures such as pupils being allowed to wear PE kits rather than school uniforms, and adapted timetables which includes postponing end of year school sports days.

The MET Office issued a red heat warning – which indicates danger to life and serious illness – for Monday and Tuesday as weather forecasts predict temperatures to rise as high as 40C in Birmingham.

The extreme weather warning applies not just to children or the elderly, but also to those who are healthy and strong regardless of age.

The impact of the intense heatwave also extends to animals, pets, and even infrastructure. People are urged to leave out water for cats, birds, squirrels and bees during the heatwave.