Open petition: Require schools in England to end the academic year in June

Created by Geraldine Jackson
Closes on 24 January 2027

Require schools in England to match Scotland’s typical late-June finish. This protects students and staff from dangerous July heatwaves caused by climate change, ensuring they aren't trapped in overheated, uncooled classrooms during peak summer, aiming for a safer, climate-resilient school year.

We urge the government to mandate an England-wide academic calendar aligned with Scotland’s model, ending the school year in late June. Climate change has made July heatwaves dangerously intense. Most schools lack air conditioning, leaving pupils and staff trapped in classrooms exceeding 30°C, which harms health and learning. Shifting to a late-June finish protects children from peak summer heat, prevents disruptive emergency closures, and modernises our education system for a warming world.

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