Dozens of schools across Rhondda Cynon Taf have either closed completely or shortened the school day this week as Wales faces an unprecedented spell of extreme heat under a rare Met Office Red Warning.
The Met Office has warned that parts of Wales could see temperatures exceed 37C, with some areas potentially reaching between 38C and 40C. The heatwave is also expected to bring high humidity and unusually warm overnight temperatures, increasing health risks and making it harder for people to recover from the heat.
Officials have warned that significant disruption to daily life is likely, urging people to take precautions and adapt their routines where possible. Advice was issued to schools earlier this week on measures to keep pupils safe, although decisions on closures have been left to individual schools.
In Rhondda Cynon Taf, the vast majority of schools affected cited concerns over pupil and staff welfare, classroom temperatures, and the challenges of maintaining safe learning environments during the extreme conditions. Many schools carried out risk assessments before deciding to close fully or partially.
Several schools, including Abercynon Community Primary School, Aberdare Community School, Ferndale Community School, Mountain Ash Comprehensive School, Porth Community School, Tonyrefail Community School, Treorchy Comprehensive School and Ysgol Nantgwyn, closed for both Wednesday and Thursday.
A number of other schools initially shortened their school day on Wednesday before announcing full closures for Thursday following updated risk assessments and forecasts of even higher temperatures. These included schools such as Cwmbach Community Primary School, Cwmclydach Community Primary School, Cwmdar Primary School, Llwynypia Primary School, Penrhys Primary School and Perthcelyn Community Primary School.
Some schools reported classroom temperatures exceeding safe levels. Parc Primary School said some classrooms had already reached temperatures above 37C, while Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdar said it had been unable to keep classroom temperatures below 30C despite efforts to do so.
Most schools affected by the closures are expected to reopen on Friday, 26 June, subject to conditions improving.
Rhondda Cynon Taf schools affected
Schools reporting full or partial closures this week include:
- Abercynon Community Primary School
- Aberdare Community School
- Aberdare Park Primary School
- Aberdare Town C in W Primary
- Abernant Primary School
- Alaw Primary School
- Bodringallt Primary School
- Brynnau Primary School
- Caegarw Primary School
- Capcoch Primary School
- Caradog Primary School
- Cardinal Newman RC Comprehensive School
- Coedpenmaen Primary School
- Coedylan Primary School
- Cwmaman Primary School
- Cwmbach C in W Primary School
- Cwmbach Community Primary School
- Cwmclydach Community Primary School
- Cwmdar Primary School
- Cwmlai Primary School
- Cymmer Primary School
- Darran Park Primary School
- Darrenlas Primary School
- Dolau Primary School
- Ferndale Community School
- Ffynnon Taf Primary School
- Gelli Primary School
- Glenboi Community Primary School
- Gwauncelyn Primary School
- Gwaunmeisgyn Primary School
- Hafod Primary School
- Hendreforgan Primary School
- Hirwaun Primary School
- Llanharan Primary School
- Llanilltud Faerdref Primary School
- Llwydcoed Primary School
- Llwyncrwn Primary School
- Llwynypia Primary School
- Maerdy Community Primary School
- Maesgwyn Special School
- Maesycoed Primary School
- Miskin Primary School
- Mountain Ash Comprehensive School
- Oaklands Primary School
- Our Lady’s RC Primary School
- Parc Lewis Primary School
- Parc Primary School
- Park Lane Special School
- Penderyn Primary School
- Pengeulan Primary School
- Penpych Primary School
- Penrhiwceibr Primary School
- Penrhys Primary School
- Penygawsi Primary School
- Penyrenglyn Community Primary School
- Penywaun Primary School
- Perthcelyn Community Primary School
- Pontrhondda Primary School
- Pontygwaith Primary School
- Porth Community School
- SS Gabriel & Raphael RC Primary School
- St Margaret’s RC Primary School
- St Michael’s RC Primary School
- TAI Education Centre
- Ton Infants School
- Ton Pentre Junior School
- Tonyrefail Community School
- Trealaw Primary School
- Tref Y Rhyg Primary School
- Treorchy Comprehensive School
- Treorchy Primary School
- Trerobart Primary School
- Ty Gwyn Education Centre
- Tylorstown Primary School
- Williamstown Primary School
- Y Pant Comprehensive School
- Ynysboeth Primary School
- Ynyshir Community Primary School
- Ysgol Afon Wen
- Ysgol Bro Taf
- Ysgol Garth Olwg
- Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda
- Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Abercynon
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdar
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Awel Taf
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bodringallt
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bronllwyn
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Castellau
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Evan James
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llyn y Forwyn
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tonyrefail
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Ynyswen
- Ysgol Llanhari
- Ysgol Nantgwyn
- Ysgol Ty Coch
Parents are advised to check directly with their school for the latest updates and reopening arrangements.
