Schools across Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury, Wells and Street have confirmed closures this week as Somerset prepares for extreme heat. Somerset Council's school closure page lists a number of full closures from Tuesday, 23 June, through to Thursday, 25 June, with several schools citing the red weather warning or extreme heat.

Temperatures are expected to climb sharply across the South West, with the Met Office red extreme heat warning running from 9am on Wednesday, 24 June, until 9pm on Thursday, 25 June. An amber warning was already in place for the region after being issued on Monday, 22 June.

The Met Office has said some areas are likely to exceed 37C in the shade, with the chance of temperatures reaching between 38C and 40C in parts of the South West. The Government has also issued guidance for schools and education settings during hot weather, saying red alerts mean schools should review actions to manage heat for all pupils and staff.

Somerset Council says its school closures page shows schools which have told the authority about closures or restricted opening hours. Parents and carers are still being advised to check directly with their school, as some schools may contact families before their entry appears online.

The schools confirmed so far in the local area are:

• The Mendip School, Prestleigh, Shepton Mallet: fully closed on Wednesday, 24 June, and Thursday, 25 June, with "red weather warning" given as the reason.
• Whitstone School, Shepton Mallet: fully closed on Wednesday, 24 June, and Thursday, 25 June, with "extreme heat" listed in the closure note.
• St Paul's CofE VC Junior School, Shepton Mallet: listed as fully closed from Tuesday, 23 June, to Thursday, 25 June. Somerset Council's page also lists a separate closure on Tuesday linked to flooding at the school.
• St Benedict's School CofE VC Junior School, Glsatonbury : Closed Wednesday 24th June and Thursday 25th June.
• St Dunstan's School, Glastonbury: fully closed from Tuesday, 23 June, to Thursday, 25 June, with the closure listed under bad weather.
• Meare Village Primary School, near Glastonbury: fully closed on Wednesday, 24 June, and Thursday, 25 June, with "red weather warning" given as the reason.
• St Cuthbert's CofE Junior School, Wells: fully closed on Wednesday, 24 June, and Thursday, 25 June. The closure note says Wessex Learning Trust has decided to close all of its schools on those days because of the red extreme heat warning.
• Avalon School, Street: fully closed on Wednesday, 24 June, and Thursday, 25 June, due to extreme hot weather.
• Elmhurst Junior School, Street: fully closed on Wednesday, 24 June, and Thursday, 25 June, with the school saying it is closing as a Wessex Learning Trust school because of the extreme heat.
• Brookside Academy, Street: fully closed from Wednesday, 24 June, to Friday, 26 June. The school says it will close on Wednesday and Thursday due to a trust-wide decision, with an inset day already planned for Friday.

The Department for Education says schools do not normally have to close during hot weather, but school leaders should take steps to make sure children are safe and comfortable. Somerset Council's live school closure page can be checked for further updates as more schools notify the authority.

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