A number of schools across Swansea will close fully or operate reduced hours this week as Wales prepares for exceptionally high temperatures under a Met Office red warning for extreme heat.
The warning comes as a heatwave is expected to affect large parts of England and Wales, with temperatures in the affected areas increasingly likely to exceed 37°C in the shade for two to three days. Some locations could see temperatures rise to between 38°C and 40°C.
According to the Met Office, the heat will be accompanied by high humidity, increasing the potential for discomfort and health impacts. Very warm and humid nights are also expected, reducing people’s ability to recover from the heat overnight.
The Met Office warned that significant disruption to daily life is likely and urged the public to take precautions and adapt their routines where possible to cope with the conditions, which remain extremely rare in the UK.
Schools were issued with advice earlier this week on measures they could take to help keep pupils safe during the heatwave. However, decisions on closures have been left to individual schools.
As a result, dozens of Swansea schools have announced full closures, partial closures or early finishes on Wednesday and Thursday.
Among those announcing full closures on Thursday are Birchgrove Primary, Danygraig Primary, Dunvant Primary, Glais Primary, Glyncollen Primary, Morriston Primary, Oystermouth Primary, Pontarddulais Primary, Pontlliw Primary, Pontybrenin Primary, St Thomas Primary and Talycopa Primary.
Several schools will also close early on Wednesday, including Gorseinon Primary, St Helen’s Primary, Townhill Primary and Christchurch Church in Wales Primary School.
A number of secondary schools have also been affected. Bishopston Comprehensive School, Gowerton Comprehensive School and Morriston Comprehensive School will be closed to all pupils on both Wednesday and Thursday, while other schools are operating reduced attendance arrangements.
All three sites of Ysgol Calon Lân will be fully closed on Wednesday and Thursday, while Maes Derw Pupil Referral Unit will also close for both days.
Parents and carers are being advised to check directly with their child’s school for the latest information.
Swansea Council said the information was correct at the time of posting but urged families to check individual school websites and the council’s website for the most up-to-date details.
Schools affected include:
Primary schools
• Birchgrove
• Bishopston
• Blaenymaes
• Brynhyfryd
• Brynmill
• Burlais
• Cadle
• Casllwchwr
• Cilâ
• Clase
• Clydach
• Crwys
• Danygraig
• Dunvant
• Gendros
• Glais
• Glyncollen
• Gors
• Gorseinon
• Gowerton
• Grange
• Gwyrosydd
• Hendrefoilan
• Knelston
• Llangyfelach
• Mayals
• Morriston
• Oystermouth
• Penclawdd
• Pengelli
• Penllergaer
• Pennard
• Pentrechwyth
• Pentre’r Graig
• Pen y Fro
• Penyrheol
• Pontarddulais
• Pontlliw
• Pontybrenin
• Portmead
• Sea View
• Sketty
• St Helen’s
• St Thomas
• Talycopa
• Terrace Road
• Townhill
• Trallwn
• Waun Wen
• Waunarlwydd
• Ynystawe
Welsh-medium primary schools
• YGG Bryniago
• YGG Brynymor
• YGG Gellionnen
• YGG Lon-Las
• YGG Pontybrenin
• YGG Tan-Y-Lan
• YGG Tirdeunaw
• YG Y Cwm
• YGG Y Login Fach
Voluntary aided primary schools
• Christchurch Church in Wales
• St David’s RC Primary
• St Joseph’s Cathedral
• St Joseph’s Catholic (Clydach)
Secondary schools
• Birchgrove
• Bishop Gore
• Bishopston
• Cefn Hengoed
• Gowerton
• Morriston
• Olchfa
• Pentrehafod
• Penyrheol
• Pontarddulais
Voluntary aided secondary schools
• Bishop Vaughan Catholic
Welsh-medium secondary schools
• YG Bryntawe
• YG Gŵyr
Special schools
• Ysgol Calon Lân – Tŷ Clase
• Ysgol Calon Lân – Tŷ Dyfatty
• Ysgol Calon Lân – Tŷ Penlan
Pupil referral units
• Maes Derw
