Climate change could lead to 11 lost days of learning, DfE warns
It comes as a joint analysis by the Met Office and University College London (UCL) found that overheating in classrooms is already affecting students' ability to concentrate
A new report has highlighted the serious risks to learning and infrastructure in England’s schools due to climate change, with students facing 11 lost days of learning by 2100, the Department for Education (DfE) has warned.
It comes as a joint analysis by the Met Office and University College London (UCL) found that overheating in classrooms is already affecting students’ ability to concentrate, and this is projected to worsen significantly without global climate action.
Currently, some schools experience indoor temperatures of 35°C for up to two days a year. If global temperatures rise by 4°C by 2100, that number could increase to eight days annually, potentially making learning “unreasonable” in affected spaces.
The DfE warned that even generally warmer conditions could result in an average of 11 lost learning days per year per pupil by 2100. These findings are based on three climate scenarios, ranging from a 1.2°C increase (current levels) to 4°C.
The DfE report also revealed widespread vulnerability to flooding. According to Environment Agency data, up to 38% of secondary school buildings are at high risk of surface water flooding, with 59% of associated sites also at risk. River and sea flooding affects a smaller proportion of schools, with up to 6% of secondary school sites at high risk.
In response to the findings, the DfE said it is implementing several adaptation measures, including: designing new school buildings to be climate-resilient; conducting pilot projects to assess needs and support future investments; and testing scalable flood mitigation strategies through initiatives like the Bradford Resilient Schools Pathfinder.
The government added that it remains committed to updating its climate risk assessments as new evidence emerges.
