More than 100 schools shut due to hot weather

More than 100 schools in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are closed or partially shut on Wednesday because of the rare red weather warning for extreme heat.

Seventy five of them were partial closures in Worcestershire, with five other full shutdowns, the county council said.

The 30 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."

Eighteen primary schools and eight secondary were among those affected in Herefordshire.

Schools include:

• Fairfield High School in Peterchurch will close on Wednesday and Thursday
• St David's Centre, Hereford, was shut on Tuesday and will remained closed until Thursday
• Blackmarston School and The Aconbury Centre in Hereford will not be open on Wednesday and Thursday
• Oasis Academy Warndon in Worcester closed on Tuesday and will remain shut on Wednesday and Thursday

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.

A red Met Office weather warning for extreme heat covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham came into force at 09:00 BST on Wednesday and is due to last until 21:00 on Thursday.

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