The United Kingdom is bracing itself for scorching conditions this week, with the latest heatwave predicted to push temperatures close to a blistering 40C. But what does this mean for the millions of pupils this week, crammed into busy - and undoubtedly extremely hot - classrooms?
An extreme amber heat warning has already been issued by the Met Office covering Monday, 22nd June through to Thursday, 25th June, with temperatures on Monday and Tuesday forecast to peak at a sweltering 38C.
Separate amber heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency which now encompass most of England from Monday morning through to Friday night.
While such health alerts urge Britons to consume plenty of fluids and avoid sun exposure, those confined to stifling classrooms have little control over their surroundings.
Consequently, schools across the UK are actively preparing for the scorching week ahead, with educators working to prevent heat exhaustion and fainting amongst students in hot weather, with both incidents reported in recent years during unbearably warm spells.
Teachers, unions, schools, and parents have all raised concerns over classroom temperatures during the UK's increasingly hot summers in recent years. Soaring temperatures can make concentration increasingly difficult at the best of times.
Pupils with special educational needs or other conditions are likely to find an intense heatwave particularly challenging — and they are far from alone.
Teachers are equally feeling the strain, battling through the same sweltering conditions while attempting to educate children who are finding it near impossible to focus, one Deputy Head of a London secondary school revealed to the i newspaper.
"During the hottest days, teachers can barely teach, let alone students learn," the senior teacher, known as 'Daniel', told the publication. "My staff say it's really hard to function properly."
While no formal school closures have yet been declared during June's heatwave, mounting pressure is being exerted on the Government to establish regulations permitting schools to close when temperatures reach dangerously elevated levels. Both the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have endorsed demands for a maximum temperature threshold in classrooms.
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed it is "carefully considering" the proposals.
Existing DfE guidance stipulates that schools ought to remain open during spells of hot weather, maintaining that regular attendance provides pupils with the best opportunity to learn and fulfil their potential.
Following the previous heatwave earlier this year, teaching unions revived demands for a statutory maximum classroom temperature. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson declined to dismiss the possibility when questioned in June.
She did, nonetheless, recognise the difficulties created by elevated temperatures in the classroom, noting that periods of extreme heat can render conditions challenging for teachers and school staff and may also impact children's capacity to learn.
Several schools have already begun implementing precautionary measures, with pupils advised to bring refillable water bottles to class, drinking and topping them up regularly throughout the day. Schools across the UK are additionally reminding students to pack a hat for outdoor periods and to apply sunscreen before setting off for school each morning.
One school in Wiltshire has relaxed its uniform policy in a bid to combat the sweltering temperatures. From Monday, pupils have been permitted to wear their standard uniform without a jumper and tie, or opt for their PE kit instead.
Whitchurch High School told the WalesOnline that it is putting some "sensible arrangements in place to help students remain safe and comfortable".
