The majority of schools across Caerphilly County Borough will close this week as Wales braces for exceptionally high temperatures under a Met Office red warning for extreme heat.
The Met Office has warned that parts of Wales and England are increasingly likely to experience a two to three day period where temperatures in the shade exceed 37°C, with some areas potentially reaching between 38°C and 40°C. High humidity is also expected, creating uncomfortable conditions during both the day and night.
The warning states that significant disruption to daily life is likely, with people urged to take precautions and adapt their routines to cope with the rare and extreme conditions. Advice had been issued to schools earlier this week about measures that could be taken to keep pupils safe, although decisions on closures were left to individual schools.
As a result, dozens of schools across Caerphilly have announced closures on Wednesday 24 June and Thursday 25 June, with many planning to reopen on Friday 26 June, subject to conditions improving.
Among those closing are Bedwas High School, Blackwood Comprehensive School, Heolddu Comprehensive School, Islwyn High School, Newbridge School, Risca Community Comprehensive, St Cenydd School, The Twyn School and both campuses of Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni.
A number of schools have also confirmed that transition days and planned activities will be postponed due to the closures.
Only a handful of schools are currently listed as remaining open, including Hendre Infants, Hendredenny Park Primary, Llanfabon Infants and Ysgol Gymraeg Caerffili.
Schools currently closed
The following schools have confirmed closures due to the red weather warning and extreme heat:
- Aberbargoed Primary
- Abercarn Primary
- Bedwas High School
- Bedwas Infants
- Bedwas Junior
- Blackwood Comprehensive
- Blackwood Primary
- Bryn Awel Primary
- Bryn Primary
- Cefn Fforest Primary
- Coed-y-Brain Primary
- Crumlin Primary
- Cwm Ifor Primary
- Cwmaber Infants
- Cwmaber Junior
- Cwmcarn Primary
- Cwmfelinfach Primary
- Cwrt Rawlin Primary
- Deri Primary
- Derwendeg Primary
- Fleur-de-Lys Primary
- Fochriw Primary
- Gilfach Fargoed Primary
- Glyn-Gaer Primary
- Graig-y-Rhacca Primary & Nursery Community School
- Greenhill Primary
- Hendre Junior
- Hengoed Primary
- Heolddu Comprehensive
- Idris Davies School 3-18
- Islwyn High School
- Libanus Primary
- Llancaeach Junior
- Machen Primary
- Maesycwmmer Primary
- Markham Primary
- Nantyparc Primary
- Newbridge School
- Pantside Primary
- Park Primary School, Bargoed
- Pengam Primary
- Penllwyn Primary
- Pentwynmawr Primary
- Phillipstown Primary
- Plasyfelin Primary
- Pontllanfraith Primary
- Rhiw Syr Dafydd Primary
- Risca Community Comprehensive
- Risca Primary
- St Cenydd School
- St Gwladys Bargoed
- St Helens Catholic Primary
- St James Primary
- St Martins Comprehensive
- The Learning Centre
- The Lewis School (Pengam Site)
- The Lewis School (Ystrad Site)
- The Twyn School
- Tir y Berth Primary
- Trinant Primary
- Trinity Fields Special School
- Ty Isaf Infants
- Ty Sign Primary
- Tyn y Wern Primary
- Tynewydd Primary
- Upper Rhymney Primary
- Waunfawr Primary
- White Rose Primary
- Y Cwmpawd Gilfach
- Y.G. Cwm Gwyddon
- Y.G.G. Bro Allta
- Y.G.G. Y Castell
- Ynysddu Primary
- Ysgol Bro Sannan
- Ysgol Cwm Derwen
- Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni (Heol Gelli Haf)
- Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni (Y Gwyndy)
- Ysgol Gymraeg Gilfach Fargoed
- Ysgol Gymraeg Trelyn
- Ysgol Ifor Bach
- Ysgol Penalltau
- Ysgol Y Lawnt
- Ystrad Mynach Primary
Schools currently remaining open
- Hendre Infants
- Hendredenny Park Primary
- Llanfabon Infants
- Ysgol Gymraeg Caerffili
Parents and carers are being advised to continue checking communications from their individual schools for the latest updates and reopening arrangements.
