Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to ensure that educational institutions in England have adequate policies to ensure the safety of staff and students during heatwaves.

The responsible body, whether a local authority, academy trust, or voluntary-aided body, must ensure the health, safety, and welfare of pupils and staff, including maintaining safe internal environments during hot weather.

The department’s Education Hub offers guidance on managing heatwaves. Additional advice on emergency planning, including extreme heat, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings.

The UK Health Security Agency provides resources for educators on protecting children in hot weather:

• Guidance for teachers and early years settings.
• General hot weather advice.

The department also allocates annual capital funding to improve school conditions and sustainability.