We call on the UK Government to launch an independent review of the education system to ensure schools are fit for the realities of modern life, modern work, and a changing climate.

 

Too many school policies, practices and environments are rooted in assumptions from a different era. While the world has evolved, many children are still expected to learn in overheating classrooms, under rigid policies that prioritise compliance over wellbeing and common sense.

 

Recent heatwaves have exposed a much deeper problem.

 

Parents across the country have reported concerns about:

• Overheated classrooms affecting concentration and learning.

• Strict uniform requirements during extreme temperatures.

• Limited access to drinking water outside designated times.

• Policies that leave little room for professional judgement or individual circumstances.

 

This is not a criticism of teachers. Teachers are working incredibly hard within a system they did not create.

 

The issue is the system itself.

 

We are asking the Government to:

 

Introduce national standards for heat safety in schools, including mandatory action when classrooms reach unsafe temperatures.
Invest in heat-resilient school buildings, including ventilation, shading and cooling measures.
Guarantee unrestricted access to drinking water during the school day.
Review uniform guidance to ensure children’s health and wellbeing take priority during extreme weather.
Launch a wider review of whether current school structures, policies and environments are preparing children for the future they will actually live and work in.

 

 

Schools should be places of learning, growth and wellbeing.

 

Children deserve an education system designed for the world they are inheriting, not one struggling to adapt to the world that has already changed.

 

It is time to modernise our schools.