About 250 schoolchildren were stopped from going to Oxford's Peers Technology College because of yesterday's soaring temperatures.

The school put out a warning on Fox FM's breakfast show, saying its year seven and eight pupils should not turn up.

But older pupils were told to attend school as normal, as they occupy a cooler part of the buildings.

Peers' headteacher Lorna Caldicott was unavailable to explain the move.

Oxfordshire County Council issues guidelines to schools on unsuitable teaching conditions. It is then the head's decision on whether children are sent home.

John Mitchell, the council's spokesman for children, young people and families, said: "Our overriding responsibility is to ensure that pupils are safe.

"The present heatwave can pose the same sort of questions for a headteacher as a school with no heating in the depths of winter.

"If such a decision is made, parents will be told at the first opportunity and reminded to listen to notices issued via local radio stations."

But the closure did not go down well with some parents.

The Page family, from Marigold Close, Greater Leys, do not listen to the radio in the morning and Kevin Page and his son Lee, 12, went to the school, in Sandy Lane West, Little- more, as normal.

By the time Lee realised the school was closed, Mr Page had left, meaning his son had to walk home, which took 25 minutes.

Mrs Page said: "When they got there, there were lots of children milling around saying there was no school, but my husband didn't take this as true and sent my son in.

"When Lee got to his classroom it was empty. He spoke to a security guard, who told him that years seven and eight had no school, as it was too hot."

She added: "I was at work and it was just luck my husband was at home, because my son had no key. When I found out what had happened, I phoned the school and was told that there was an announcement on the radio, but we don't have the radio on.

"I phoned the council, who told me that I have to take the complaint up with the school. But I've only been able to reach a secretary, who told me that I should listen to the radio, to see if the school is open again.

"I think it's appalling that children, including my son, were put at enormous risk.

"There must have been lots of other families who were caught out like this."