Pupils risk missing out on over two weeks’ learning a year due to warmer temperatures

Ten years ago, it would seem almost laughable to miss school because of hot weather.

Yet the reality of climate change is very much with us, with record-breaking heatwaves across the UK in 2025.

However, a report by the Met Office and the Department of Education predicts school children may miss out on over two weeks of learning - not just because of extreme heat - but because of overall warmer temperatures.

By crunching the data on 20,000 commercial school buildings, researchers calculated how climate risks such as overheating could affect future students’ learning.

The report revealed that children could lose up to 12 days of learning per year from overall warmer temperatures if no adaptive measures were taken.

Sweltering indoor temperatures on newer buildings

The report also highlighted that some schools may have already had one or two days a year when indoor temperatures pass 35 °C.

Researchers revealed that buildings built from the 1960s onwards are more likely to overheat than older buildings because they are better insulated.

In addition, schools in the south, east and London are more at risk than the rest of the country.

What to do in hot weather

We have all experienced hot days, making our classrooms stuffy and everyone sleepy, but with rising temperatures, heat exhaustion may become a real problem.

Symptoms to look out for include dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and excessive sweating.

The Department of Education advises keeping windows open from the early morning or the night before if possible, to allow heat build-up to escape.

Indoor blinds and curtains need to be drawn as long as they don’t block ventilation, while windows should be closed if the temperature becomes hotter inside than outside.

Fans should only be used if the temperature is below 35°C. Anything above may not prevent heat-related illness and could worsen dehydration.

Keep cool with External Blinds

However, one of the best ways that schools can keep their classrooms cool is by installing external blinds on windows.

Our case studies have shown that fitting external blinds to homes can cut the temperature inside by seven degrees Celsius or more.

The effect of the blinds is immediate because the heat-reflecting fabric blocks solar glare, stopping overheating from happening in the first place.

The special weave of the fabric still lets light into the room and means that pupils can still see the view outside.

Our external blinds also contain child safety mechanisms, such as chain clips and detachable crank handles, and are easy to operate via a remote control or wall switch, and are compatible with smart-home automation systems.

Keep sustainable with External Blind Solutions

The government is encouraging us all on our Net Zero journey and is actively helping schools to install solar and other sustainable energy measures to slash carbon and lower bills.

Unlike energy-guzzling air conditioning units, which are very expensive to run and contain harmful chemicals, external blinds are truly sustainable, using very little energy to raise and lower.

Because the blinds can be controlled remotely, the school caretaker can control the temperature inside classrooms and keep them cool for pupils and teachers throughout the day.

External blinds can even save on energy bills in the winter because you can use the solar glare to heat classrooms.

Alternative cooling solutions

Alongside external blinds, there are several other effective ways schools can manage overheating. Roller blinds with reflective backing on the fabric help bounce heat back out of the classroom, reducing solar gain while still allowing staff to control glare for activities like reading or using screens.

Solar control window film is another option, applied directly to the glazing to cut UV and infrared light, lowering internal temperatures and protecting furniture and equipment from fading.

For ground-floor classrooms, canopies and awnings provide an extra layer of shade, stopping the strongest midday sun before it reaches the windows and also creating useful covered outdoor learning or play areas.

When considering these solutions, rooms with south- and west-facing windows should always be the priority, as they are exposed to the most intense sunshine during the school day and contribute most to overheating.

School capital programmes

If your school is due for refurbishment, it is worth asking your local authority or academy to consider embedding adaptive measures such as external blinds into the school's capital programmes.

Kensington Blinds are used to working with schools, houses, or heritage buildings around their unique needs to minimise disruption to everyday operations.

If you’d like to speak to our experts, please contact us to find out more about how external blinds can keep your classrooms cool.