Schools shut in two counties due to hot weather

More than 60 schools in Herefordshire and Worcestershire will be closed and others shut early from Wednesday because of the rare red weather warning for extreme heat.

Worcestershire County Council said half a dozen schools would shut at lunchtime on Wednesday.

Those affected in Herefordshire include John Kyrle High School in Ross-on-Wye, which will close until the end of Thursday.

"It's a really, really difficult decision, but it's about weighing up the overall level of risk," said deputy head Luke Moseley. "We've got a duty of care to our community - we want to make sure our students are safe."

The schools include:

• Fairfield High School in Peterchurch will close on Wednesday and Thursday
• St David's Centre, Hereford, is to be shut from 12:00 BST until the end of Thursday
• John Masefield High School and Sixth Form Centre in Ledbury will be partially closed, from 13:15 on Tuesday until the end of Thursday
• Blackmarston School and The Aconbury Centre in Hereford will not be open on Wednesday and Thursday
• Oasis Academy Warndon in Worcester will close from 13:00 on Tuesday

Most schools which are closing are expected to reopen on Friday.

Moseley said most parents were understanding of the dilemma faced by school leaders.

"They expect us to make really sensible, really well-judged, thoughtful, careful decisions that put their children at the centre," he said.

"We care too much to keep pushing and keep the school open when we're concerned about young people's safety.

"But it is a tough decision."

Staff at the Aconbury Centre and St David's Centre said they would review the weather throughout the week and reopen sooner if appropriate, Herefordshire Council said.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red health warning for six regions of England, including the West Midlands, from 01:00 on Wednesday to 23:00 on Thursday.

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