How schools across Wigan borough are adjusting to the heat as temperatures continue to soar
A Wigan borough school will close early tomorrow as temperatures continue to rise.
The Westleigh School has announced it will shut at 1pm due to the heat.
A Facebook post said: “We have managed to condense the school day to ensure students can complete their learning and assessments before finishing earlier due to the high temperatures.”
Shevington High School has also announced a partial closure on both Wednesday and Thursday.
The Westleigh School is allowing pupils to wear PE kit instead of their usual uniform.
St John Fisher Catholic High School, Byrchall High School and Outwood Academy Hindley have allowed the same change, while other schools, including Dean Trust Wigan, have told children to continue wearing their uniforms but without a blazer.
The heat has also led to the postponement of an open evening at St Peter’s Catholic High School and a sports day at St Catharine’s CE Primary School in Scholes.
Many schools have reminded pupils and parents about the importance of sun cream and drinking plenty of water.
The Met Office forecasts temperatures in Wigan will reach at least 30 degrees Celsius every day until Friday and peak at 36C on Thursday.
An amber weather warning for extreme heat covers the borough from midnight on Wednesday to 11.59pm Thursday.
Wigan Council shared information on its Facebook page from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to help people cope in the heat.
This included:
- Close blinds and windows to keep your home cool, move to the coolest part of your home and open your windows when it feels cooler outside than inside
- Drink plenty of fluid, wear sunscreen and a hat, and schedule activities for cooler times of day if possible
- Look out for vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, especially people who might struggle to keep cool like older people, people with health conditions and young children
Temperatures are rising across England and a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe could see thermometers hit 40C by Wednesday.
The heatwave is expected to surpass the record for June set in Hampshire in 1976 and has seen a red weather warning for extreme heat covering imposed on large swathes of the country.
The temperature could come close to the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C which was measured in July 2022.