Hot weather Adaptations w/c 6th July 2026

07/07/2026

It is getting hotter later in the week, and there is an amber heat health warning in place: https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/heat/south-east

It will not be as hot as last time, but it will get more uncomfortable over the coming days. Temperature checks this afternoon during period 5 showed some rooms at 28, but most not above 26. We are therefore going to make a few changes for Thursday and Friday to start and end school earlier, but not lose any lesson time. If it is much worse than anticipated, we will make further changes for Friday. 

Wed: as normal, with a slightly shortened summer show (see below).

Thurs and Fri: please note the earlier start time.

0730: gates open.

0800: p1 (in school by 7.55)

0900: p2

1000: break

1030: p3

1130: p4

1230: lunch

1300: p5

1400: finish

After school detention will run, but will be significantly shorter.

The library will remain open if any student needs to stay after school.

Thursday's Year 10 mock interviews will go ahead unchanged.

Wednesday's summer show will be shortened, and performances will be grouped, so that few students (or parents) need to stay for the whole evening. The new running order was attached in the email sent on 07/07/2026, and has already gone separately to the parents of performers. In outline, 3 sessions, starting at 4:30, 5:30 and 7, with breaks between each of them.

25/06/2026

Heatwave measures for Friday 26 June

The amber weather warning has been extended into Saturday, so we will continue with the same adaptations as below on Friday as well.

23/06/2026

Dear parents and carers,

You will know that an amber weather alert for extreme temperatures has been issued by the Met Office. The BBC weather app is currently saying that temperatures will peak at 37 degrees, but that it will feel like 42.

School will remain open, and we are going to keep lessons as normal and productive as possible, however we are very aware of the difficulties this will present in classrooms with 30 children.

Here are the adaptations we are going to make:

Obvious things:

• Water bottles, shorts, t-shirts, hats and sunscreen before coming to school, please.

• Doors and windows open, ventilation and fans on, blinds down.

• Thermometers are in all rooms; we will be checking throughout the day.

• Students need to fill water bottles between lessons or at break and lunch, not during lessons.

• Site team will leave windows open at night to let cooler air in.

• Fans in the hottest rooms have been installed, or are being installed today.

• Extra water points around school.

• Some outdoor lessons; they need to be planned and productive, however.

Changes to the school day:

Tues, Wed, Thurs (hitting 37 degrees; feels like 42) shorter day as follows:

• Timings will be 8:30 - 12:00 to avoid the worst of the heat.
• 45 min lessons
• No tutor: straight to p1.
• p5 CANCELLED
• Timings of the day will be:

  • 8.30-10: p1&2

  • 10-10.30: break

  • 10.30 - 12: p3&4

  • 12 - 12.30: lunch (for those that would like it)

• School will remain open until normal time for any families where an early finish will present difficulties. Students should go to the library (which has air con).
• Please remind your children that an early finish is not an opportunity to go to the park and get sunstroke. It is to allow them to get out of the sun, not into the park.
• For future heatwaves, we may move the whole school day earlier, so starting at 7.30 (staff survey this afternoon to judge feasibility), which is what they do in Europe.

Exams:

• Lower Gym gets very hot; Assembly Hall is generally fine.

• All Yr12 afternoon exams will be in the Assembly Hall.

• Extra industrial fans in Lower Gym.

• Some adjustments to exam timetable to remove afternoon exams in the Lower Gym. This may mean that some Yr10 exams will need to be caught up in class, or just won't happen. We will hopefully be able to reseat as many as possible into the Assembly Hall.

• Confirmation of exam timings and reseating arrangements to Yr10 and Yr12 later today.

Thorpe Park trips

• These are currently scheduled to go ahead, but parents please ensure students have sunscreen, hats and water bottles before leaving home. 

Best wishes, 

Rob Pavey
Headteacher