Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to make schools more fit for students and staff during future heatwaves.

The department takes periods of hot weather and heatwaves seriously and has published a climate risk assessment, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/impact-of-uk-climate-change-risk-on-the-delivery-of-education/summary-of-findings-in-relation-to-3-climate-risks-overheating-flooding-and-water-scarcity.

To support the sector, the department has published guidance for education settings during hot weather, which is available at: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/hot-weather-and-heatwaves-guidance-for-schools-and-other-education-settings/. This advice draws on guidance from the UK Health Security Agency.

In most cases, schools are the safest place for children during hot weather, as staff can actively monitor pupils, ensure regular hydration, and make adjustments to keep them cool. Children may also not be any cooler at home than in school. Recent analysis by the National Housing Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing shows that 1.6 million children are currently living in overheated homes.

The department is improving infrastructure and strengthening resilience across the education estate through our Education Estates Strategy. This includes a new £710 million Renewal and Retrofit Programme to improve condition and climate resilience, investment of almost £3 billion per year in capital maintenance by 2034/35 to improve the condition of the school and college estate, and investment of almost £20 billion through to 2034/35 in the School Rebuilding Programme, delivering climate‑resilient buildings at over 750 schools.

The department is also developing its objectives as part of the fourth National Adaptation Programme due in 2028.​