'Stay Cool!': How Jersey's schools are coping with the heatwave

"I said to the children in Assembly, the important thing today is to stay cool. Cool in temperature, cool in attitude, and let's get through this together."

That is the message Janvrin head teacher Andrew Willis has delivered to his pupils during the current intense heatwave gripping Jersey.

Temperatures have already broken heat records for June, surpassing 33.4°C by lunchtime on Tuesday, and are expected to continue to rise to potentially 38°C.  That would make it the hottest day ever in Jersey.

We are three days into an expected five day heatwave, the second of 2026.

40°C possible for Jersey midweek

Across Jersey, schools are doing what they can to keep open and keep children comfortable in the hot weather.

Some have closed, or are shutting earlier in the day, but most are staying open and giving parents the option to pick their child up early.

At Janvrin, Mr Willis told Channel 103:

"We wanted to offer that flexibility, but at the same time we recognise that it's not possible for all parents (to collect early).  It is particularly important that we stay open for lunch because hot lunches and a good meal is something that is really important for the children.

"We are doing that from 1pm and closing at 3pm.  We are not open for after-school club because the heat really has built up by then.

"For children, we know it is harder physiologically to regulate temperature.  And they are really active, so it's all very well to say 'don't run around' but you tell a six-year-old not to run around and you are not going to get very far."

Sam Cooper, over at D'Auvergne, says they are also being flexible in their approach and will allow collections from 1pm on Wednesday.

"Every minute of every day in school counts, and where possible we want the children in school undertaking their learning in as comfortable environment as possible."

Like many of the island's primary schools, D'Auvergne does not have air conditioning:

"We will allow parents to take a view.  The children will be marked as 'authorised absence' tomorrow afternoon, and I think that is fair.  That is supporting working families, providing continuity if required and just being sensible."

He says the youngsters are coping well.

"They are doing ok.  They are pretty resilient, but you can see later on in the day, particularly children who perhaps have additional needs are finding the temperature quite difficult to manage."

It's the same experience for Mr Willis at Janvrin.

"The teachers have got some nice, quite, calm activities going on, but  - I have to say - by the end of lunchtime the children really have had enough.

"We are doing all we can, but we are just aiming to get to the cooler weather into Friday and getting back to normal."

 In a statement, CYPES said:

"Decisions on whether schools remain open or make any changes in response to the hot weather are taken by individual headteachers, who are best placed to assess their local circumstances.

"We have issued guidance to support schools during these conditions, and schools will communicate directly with parents and carers about any changes.

"We remain in communication with all schools regarding their operational plans during the hot weather. If a school needs to adjust their normal routine, then this will be communicated directly to parents through their usual channels."