UPDATE 18 July: Dozens of schools have now announced closures, read all about them here>>>

--

MORE schools have announced closures for Monday and Tuesday, as temperatures are set to hit 36C in parts of the county.

So far, only two schools – Iffley Academy and East Challow’s St Nicholas Primary School – have announced full closures.

READ MORE: Water supplies still affected despite burst pipe fix

Others, including Burford School, Aureus School and The Cooper School, will shut at lunchtime.

Appleton Church of England Primary School is among those remaining open. However, the south Oxfordshire school has cancelled the planned disco for children in reception and years one and two, according to a post on its Facebook page. The disco for children in years three to six will go ahead, although attendees must come with a sunhat and bottle of water.

Announcing the school would be closing at 12.30pm on Monday and Tuesday, King Alfred's Academy headteacher Rick Holroyd said in a letter to parents: "Please be assured that we are trying to keep the well being and health and safety of our students’ paramount in these very difficult conditions."

The Wantage headteacher added: "In my 40 years in education, I have never faced such a situation and never experienced classrooms quite as warm as they are at present." 

St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Sandy Lane, Oxford, will remain open tomorrow (Monday, July 18) - but the school said there would be 'learning activities' on offer rather than formal teaching. "This is more of a child care approach, so that you can choose to keep your child at home for health and safety reasons. This will not be counted as unauthorised absence," the school said.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward