Teacher union leader: Change school hours and exam schedules to cope with extreme heat

The general secretary of the National Education Union, Daniel Kebede, has called for urgent reforms to adapt UK schools to rising temperatures. Following a summer where classroom heat exceeded 40C, forcing thousands of pupils to go home, Kebede urged the government to implement a large-scale retrofitting programme. He argued that many school buildings, constructed for a cooler climate, are now inadequate. To ensure educational continuity, he proposed a national debate on measures such as shifting exam periods away from peak summer heat, adjusting daily start and finish times, and potentially extending summer holidays to align better with warmer weather patterns.

During recent heatwaves, at least 760,000 students in England and Wales experienced school closures, resulting in millions of lost teaching hours. Teachers reported that extreme conditions led to significant distress, with learning becoming nearly impossible. Kebede highlighted that this issue exacerbates social inequality, as children from deprived urban areas often return to homes poorly suited for heat, while their parents may lack the flexibility to work from home. He warned that without structural improvements, a two-tier system could emerge where only schools in affluent areas are adequately equipped to handle the increasingly common summer temperatures.

For members of the UK Turkish community with children in the British school system, these proposals carry significant implications. Families may face changes to academic calendars and potential disruptions to exam schedules in the coming years. As the debate over school infrastructure intensifies, parents should monitor potential government investments in building efficiency, which aim to make classrooms safer and more comfortable. Ensuring that schools can function effectively during extreme weather is becoming a priority for educational planning, and these proposed systemic changes will likely influence the future experience of students across the country.

This summary was prepared with AI assistance. Please verify accuracy via the source.
Kaynak: The Guardian Education — https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/oct/11/schools-exams-extreme-heat-neu-daniel-kebede