Failure to plan for rising temperatures has left UK’s schools sweltering
Summary
Many UK schools are struggling with high indoor temperatures because they were not built to handle hotter weather. Older school buildings with thick walls stay cooler, while newer buildings often become uncomfortably hot, showing a lack of planning for climate change impacts.Key Facts
- A 130-year-old school building stays cooler in summer than a newer building from 2017 nearby.
- Newer school buildings were designed using guidelines that did not fully consider rising temperatures.
- Some 1970s schools have poor designs like flat roofs and small windows, making heat problems worse.
- The UK government’s Climate Change Committee says current school adaptation plans are “not fit for purpose.”
- The committee recommends air conditioning in all schools, with a deadline set for 2050.
- The UK Department for Education is investing nearly £20 billion to rebuild and refurbish over 750 schools by 2035.
- A £710 million program is underway to upgrade schools to better handle climate change by 2030.
- There are over 22,000 state schools and colleges in the UK, so more investment will be needed to prepare them all for hotter weather.
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