Lib Dems call for Schools “Climate Resilience” Plan
They are calling on the Green Party-led Council to convene talks with schools across the borough to develop climate resilience plans before next year’s summer brings more disruption.
The Lib Dems have found that from 23 to 26 June 2026 no fewer than 18 Lambeth schools closed, either fully or partially, for at least one day. Across the borough this amounted to 54 school closure days, during just one heatwave.
School closures disrupt children’s education, particularly those sitting exams, and they put pressure on parents, who can struggle to find alternative provision.
The Lib Dems note that sadly heatwaves are likely to become a feature of British summers, and as this year shows, they can begin as early as May. That’s why the Lib Dems are keen the Council starts planning now to help schools adapt before next summer’s exam season.
Following approaches from local families, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems, Councillor Tam Langley, has written to Cabinet member Councillor Ciara Alleyne, whose brief covers the Climate Emergency and Future Generations, calling on her to convene talks with Lambeth schools and to develop a schools’ climate resilience plan.
Councillor Langley writes:
“We recognise that headteachers have the ultimate decision-making over school closures, and that safety is the paramount question here. But parents want the Council to set out its expectations regarding notice of closures, decision-making and what alternative provision is available.
“To avoid so many closures next year, there should be a full exploration of possible alternatives, such as adjusting the school day (to start and finish early). Schools need support to install shading for buildings and playgrounds, by May 2027 at the very latest. They need help to identify funding to install air-conditioning, solar panels and insulation.”
Commenting from a personal perspective, Tam added,
“My kids went to primary school in Spain for a year. The school day started and finished early, and sails were strung up to shade the playground. The school used the local sports centre so kids could play team sports indoors during hot weather. We need to adapt what we do and learn from other countries, and bring schools, parents and the Council together to devise a climate resilience plan ready for next year.”
Notes to Readers
This is the text of the letter from Cllr Langley to Cllr Alleyne:
Councillor Ciara Alleyne
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for
Climate Emergency and Future Generations
London Borough of Lambeth
Dear Ciara,
Schools’ Climate Resilience
As you will know, schools suffered badly during the heatwaves of May, June and July. A response to a Member’s Enquiry I filed found there were 54 heat-related school closure days across Lambeth during just one of these heatwaves (from 23-26 June). 18 of Lambeth’s 86 schools closed, partially or fully, in that period.
As a parent, I know the disruption heatwaves cause. Students lose study time, classes fall behind in the curriculum, and parents scramble to make last-minute arrangements for care. For older students taking GCSEs and A-levels, the disruption can have life-long implications.
We both know that extreme weather events will sadly be an increasingly common feature of the coming years. Several Stockwell parents have written to me asking for, “a borough-wide plan to improve school climate resilience.” Which I agree we urgently need.
That’s why I’m calling on you to convene talks with schools across the borough – now, in good time – to develop a climate resilience plan for Lambeth’s schools.
We recognise that headteachers have the ultimate decision-making over school closures, and that safety is the paramount question here. But parents want the Council to set out its expectations regarding notice of closures, decision-making and what alternative provision is available.
To avoid so many closures next year, there should be a fuller exploration of possible alternatives, such as adjusting the school day (to start and finish early). Schools need support to install shading for buildings and playgrounds, by May 2027 at the very latest. They need help to identify funding to install air-conditioning, solar panels and insulation.
Upgrading school buildings properly will take time and cost money, but that is exactly why now is the time to convene talks with Lambeth schools and parents, involving Officers, engineers, architects and heat-resilience specialists, to look at a variety of imaginative solutions, including looking at the approach taken in hotter countries like Spain or Australia. We need both short-term and long-term solutions.
Lambeth families need a plan that is realistic and implementable. Buildings, playgrounds, and the age of the children will vary, but sharing best practice and examples of what’s worked, along with routes to securing funding (e.g. for air-conditioning, which we should aim to be powered by solar) could help our schools reduce the impact of future heatwaves on children, teachers and parents.
I ask you to take up this idea, and to commit to developing “a borough-wide plan to improve school climate resilience” over the next nine months.
Please let me know your intentions and whether you will agree to this.
With thanks and all best wishes,
Tam
Councillor Tam Langley
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Council Group