Bridget Phillipson has proposed the idea of setting maximum temperatures for schools in response to potential heatwaves.
Following recent record-breaking temperatures, the Education Secretary expressed willingness to assess the needs of schools, considering requests from teaching unions for temperature limits in classrooms.
Referencing the Education Estates Strategy of February, Ms. Phillipson emphasized the government’s long-term plan to enhance school infrastructure to adapt to climate changes.
When asked about the potential for setting maximum school temperatures, Ms. Phillipson stated that she would closely evaluate the needs of schools, acknowledging the challenges posed by temperature variations and hot weather on teachers, staff, and students’ learning environment.
The Education Secretary highlighted the importance of ensuring that school buildings are resilient to climate changes and equipped for the future as part of the education estate strategy.
Additionally, efforts are being considered to install solar panels on school roofs and improve energy procurement processes to address concerns about rising energy costs due to global events.
Pepe Di’Iasio from the Association of School and College Leaders and Daniel Kebede from the NEU teaching union supported the idea of implementing a maximum working temperature in schools to enhance resilience against heat, ensure comfort, and protect learning environments.
Current data indicates that a significant number of schools are experiencing overheating issues, with concerns that extreme heat events could disrupt learning activities in the future if global temperatures continue to rise.
Under the renewed estate strategy, substantial funding has been allocated to improve school infrastructure and increase climate resilience, ensuring that buildings can endure future challenges and meet net-zero standards.
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