Schools told to do immediate risk assessment amid red heat warning

More than 300 schools across England and Wales were told to carry out an immediate risk assessment as a rare red extreme heat warning takes effect. The alert begins at 9am on Monday and runs until 9pm on Thursday, affecting parts of England and Wales including London, sections of the Midlands, south-east Wales and southern England. Because red warnings indicate possible significant health risks, schools and early years settings were instructed to review how they will manage heat for pupils and staff, with closures possible after the additional assessment. The NASUWT union said the warning could lead to shutdowns. Rail passengers were advised to avoid non-essential travel, and the Met Office warned of potential disruption to road, rail and air travel, along with likely power cuts and issues affecting heat-sensitive infrastructure such as water supplies. Forecasters predicted temperatures near 37C to 38C, with 39C possible on Wednesday.