We all remember the glee of having a ‘snow day’ when the school would close and we’d be granted a surprise holiday now, for the first time we have an ‘extreme heat day’. The Met office has issued a red weather warning for extreme heat for Marlborough from 9 am on Wednesday until 9 pm on Thursday. This is the highest level of alert and indicates a significant risk to health and safety, even for those who are otherwise fit and well. As a result schools in the area are either partially closing or closing completely for Wednesday and Thursday. However, Marlborough’s first Pride event due to take place on the evening of Wednesday June 24th will go ahead.
St John’s will close at lunchtime today, Tuesday 23rd and remain closed until Friday June 26th. In a letter to parents Principal of St John’s, Alan Henderson, said, “After carefully reviewing this updated guidance, and considering the welfare of students and staff, I have taken the difficult decision that the school will now be fully closed on Wednesday and Thursday this week… Red weather warnings are issued only when there is a high likelihood of serious illness or danger to life. Our site-based mitigations, while effective in moderate heat, cannot fully counter the risks associated with prolonged extreme temperatures. Many classrooms and internal spaces are not designed to cope with sustained heat at this level, even with ventilation measures in place. The safety of students travelling to and from school—particularly those on long bus routes—must also be taken into account. The updated warning covers the full school day on both days, leaving no safe window for partial opening. This is not a decision I have taken lightly. I fully appreciate the disruption this may cause for families, but the health and safety of our students and staff must come first.”
Pewsey Vale School is closing at lunchtime until Friday and at Marlborough St Mary’s parents have the option to collect pupils at lunchtime.
Students will be expected to follow remote learning tasks when schools are closed.
However, Rachel Lynes, who is orgainising Marlborough’s first Pride event on June 24th says the event will go ahead. The event ,which is free and will feature three of Rachel’s musical theatre choirs, is being held in St Peter’s Church. Rachel told Marlborough.news, “The church is nice and cool and there’s an ice cream van. If it is too hot to march, we will hold a static march in the cool of St Peter’s gardens and on the shady side of the High Street!”
To read more about the event click here.
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