Parents were hot under their collars after schools today announced they were closing earlier due to the warm weather.
Headmasters hit the panic button this afternoon met office warned a new record temperature could be set in the UK early next week.
Stunned mums and dads at some schools have been told to pick up their children at 1pm on Monday and Tuesday or that the days would be strictly stay-at-home days.
Others encouraged students to wear t-shirts and shorts rather than regular uniforms.
School leaders hit the panic button this afternoon after the Met Office warned a new record temperature could be set in the UK early next week
Hereford Academy announced an earlier start and end of the school day, while parents at Marlbrook, Little Dewchurch and St Martin primary schools have been told that physical education classes will be canceled and pupils will not be allowed to play outside.
A letter added: “We are also giving parents the option to keep children at home on Mondays.”
Meanwhile, Crestwood Community School in Eastleigh, Hampshire, is among the schools canceling sports day.
In East London, the headmistress at Clapton Girls’ Academy warned against early graduation amid fears the school’s facilities could not withstand the heat.
Anna Feltham told parents: “Many classrooms are already very hot, even with fans, and students are struggling to stay cool, drink enough water and maintain focus in class.
“Next week’s heat wave will make many classrooms unbearably hot for periods two and five. We’ve looked at a number of options, but don’t have enough ‘cool’ rooms to reschedule the classroom.’
And Red Hall Primary School in Darlington has banned children from playing outside in the scorching heat unless they wear a hat, saying it was a “real concern” that many pupils went to school without one this week .
Health chiefs fear the NHS will be overwhelmed by a string of heat-related casualties if mercury does indeed rise to levels normally seen only in California’s Death Valley, the hottest place on earth.
It came as the Met Office warned people’s lives could be at risk as it suggested it was likely a new record high temperature could be set in the UK early next week.
Meteorologists said there was an 80% chance of the mercury surpassing the UK’s record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F) set in Cambridge in 2019, with the current heatwave set to peak on Tuesday.
There is a 50 per cent chance of temperatures reaching 40C anywhere in the UK, likely along the A1 corridor, with the Met Office issuing its first red extreme heat warning.
The UK health agency has raised its heat warning from level three to level four – a “national emergency”.
Level four is reached “when a heat wave is so severe and/or prolonged that its impact extends beyond the health and social care system… At this level, illness and death can occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups.” it was said.
The Met Office’s red alert for Monday and Tuesday covers an area from London to Manchester and as far north as the Vale of York.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “If people have vulnerable relatives or neighbors, now is the time to ensure they take appropriate action to cope with the heat because if the forecast is as we think it will be in the red warning zone, then human lives are in danger.
“This is a very serious situation.”
He said there was an 80 per cent chance that Britain’s all-time temperature record would be broken and a 50 per cent chance that temperatures of 40C would be reached somewhere in Britain.
“Most likely that’s within the red warning zone for extreme heat,” said Mr. Madge.
“Probably the best areas to look at are north of London and as far inland as Lincolnshire.
“Somewhere like Peterborough, Grantham, Sandy, Stevenage, areas like that, A1 Corridor.”
He said temperatures reaching 40C would be a “historic event”.
“When we hit 40C, that’s a very iconic threshold and shows that climate change is with us now,” he said.
“This is becoming much more likely due to climate change.”
Downing Street said Cobra met on Thursday amid the heatwave and talks with sectors, including the NHS, would “continue to work closely with all those sectors today, over the weekend and into early next week”.
Meanwhile, motorists have been advised to take their trips outside of the hottest times of the day, especially if they have older cars.
Sean Sidley, AA Patrol of the Year said: “There are reports of road spreaders being out this weekend to reduce the chance of our roads melting.
“When things are getting sticky on the roads, there’s nothing worse than being stuck in traffic with the mercury rising, so make sure you have plenty of water – at least a liter per person – and plenty of fuel with you, or if you’re using that Driving Electric Vehicle (EV) – make sure you have enough charge so you can use the air conditioning when needed.’
Tim Doran, of the RNLI Water Safety Team, said the service anticipates a “busy weekend” for its lifeboat crews and lifeguards.
“If you plan to go to the beach, we recommend you visit a beach that has lifeguards and swim between the red and yellow flags,” he said.
North Wales Police said a paddler had died after getting into trouble in the water off Conwy Morfa beach on Thursday night.
Officers were called at 10.14pm and attended along with the Coastguard, RNLI and Ambulance Service with two injured being taken to hospital in Bangor where one died.
The force said the local coroner had been informed and special officials were assisting the deceased’s family.
