New Forest pupils and teachers fall ill during heatwave

As temperatures topped 37C during the heatwave at the end of June, a pupil at Orchard Junior School in Dibden Purlieu was rushed to hospital for an MRI scan, the school's headteacher has revealed.

Other pupils and six staff members were also taken ill and sent home, with more than 100 children missing lessons on the worst day.

Headteacher Carol Taylor has described the impact of the scorching weather in an email to Dibden Purlieu councillor Malcom Wade, who is calling for the school to be equipped with air conditioning.

Pupils and teachers at Orchard Junior School were taken ill after temperatures soared past 30C

Mrs Taylor said the sweltering conditions became a health and safety risk for pupils and staff.

She added: "During the red weather warning issued in late June, 26 children were sent home suffering from significant heat-related illness. One child became so unwell they required hospital treatment.

"A further 254 pupil absence days were directly linked to heat-related illness between Tuesday and Friday of that week, with 108 pupils absent on the worst affected day alone.

"Illness ranged from nosebleeds, fainting, headaches, and vomiting to children who were confused and dazed by the effect of the heat. Six members of staff also became sufficiently unwell that they had to be sent home.

"Excessively high classroom temperatures have become a recurring feature of the summer term.

"During periods of extreme heat, external doors and windows are opened from as early as 5am in an attempt to capture cooler morning air before temperatures begin to rise.

"Staff continuously adapt their routines and practice in an effort to keep children safe.

"Despite all these interventions, classroom temperatures still reached 37.5°C at 12.15pm ... before the implementation of the school's partial closure arrangements for the afternoon.

"This was not simply a building that was uncomfortable. It was a building that was becoming increasingly difficult to operate safely."

Orchard Junior School says 108 pupils were sent home on the worst day

Mrs Taylor said the child who had an MRI scan spent two days in hospital.

Cllr Wade told the Daily Echo: "The effect of heat on the children is unacceptable. The fact that one child had to go into hospital and others were sick are signs that action should take place as soon as possible.

"Shutting the school during hot periods is not the answer as it disrupts the children’s education."

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “We recognise that the recent period of exceptionally high temperatures made conditions particularly challenging for pupils and staff.

"The safety and wellbeing of children in our schools is an absolute priority for us and we continue to support schools with practical advice on measures to help manage overheating.

"This includes improving ventilation, using shading and blinds, and reducing the amount of heat entering buildings through windows and other sun-exposed areas.

 “We understand why some parents and staff would like to see air conditioning installed in schools.

"However, with a large and varied school estate, installing and maintaining air conditioning across all maintained schools would require substantial investment that is currently beyond the funding available.

"Our focus is therefore on practical measures and targeted building improvements that can benefit the greatest number of schools."

 “We are continuing to invest in improvements that can make school buildings more resilient and comfortable over the long term. These include upgrading roofs and windows where needed, improving energy efficiency, and carrying out planned maintenance.

 “While red heat-health alerts have so far been relatively uncommon, school buildings across the country are facing increasing pressures from more frequent periods of extreme heat. Hampshire is not alone in facing this challenge.

"Addressing the long-term impact of climate change on the school estate will require a coordinated national response and sustained investment. We will continue to work with schools, sector partners and the Department for Education to ensure these issues are recognised and considered as part of future funding and policy decisions.”