Campaigners are calling on the government to install air conditioning (air-con) units in schools to prevent pupils from sweltering summer term temperatures.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warns that having to work in baking classrooms can impact children’s performances in lessons and exams.

Lots of schools make changes during summer to help pupils cope when the weather gets hot, such as relaxing some uniform rules and reducing time spent in the sun at break times. However, experts say that more permanent measures are needed to tackle this burning issue.

Europe is warming faster than any other continent, and last week, the UK had its hottest ever May day when it hit 35.1°C in London. Luckily, the heatwave fell at a time when a lot of children were away on half-term.

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) last week said all schools should have air-con within the next 25 years, with heatwaves starting to threaten the “British way of life”.