Former The Only Way Is Essex star Lydia Bright has joined a growing backlash against schools closing during the UK’s record-breaking heatwave, arguing that the decision is creating major problems for working parents while doing little to protect children from the soaring temperatures.
More than 1,000 schools across England and Wales have either closed completely or reduced their opening hours as forecasters warn temperatures could exceed 40C in some parts of the country this week.
Lydia, who shares six-year-old daughter Loretta with ex-partner Lee Cronin, expressed frustration after her daughter’s primary school announced a sudden closure due to the extreme heat.
Taking to Instagram, the reality star questioned whether shutting schools was the right solution.
“Am I the only one who thinks this is madness?” she asked her followers.
Lydia explained that she received an email late on Monday evening informing parents that the school would close early on Tuesday and remain shut on Wednesday and Thursday.
“At 7.15pm on Monday night, I received an email to say the school would be closing at 1pm on Tuesday and now today and Thursday because of the heat. I’m struggling to get my head around it.”
Currently on a work trip in the Mediterranean as part of a collaboration with P&O Cruises, Lydia revealed she had been scrambling to arrange alternative childcare for Loretta from overseas.
She also questioned whether children would be any safer at home than in classrooms.
“Children all over the world sit in classrooms in these temperatures every day, without air conditioning,” she wrote.
“Our children happily spend entire days on holiday in this heat and when we collect them at 1pm we’re taking them home to houses that are exactly the same temperature. Maybe I’m missing something?”
Highlighting the impact on families, Lydia added: “I’m currently overseas trying to rearrange plans for Loretta and I know I won’t be the only working parent trying to move schedules and commitments.”
She concluded: “It feels like we’re solving one problem by creating another for hundreds of working families.”
Lydia’s comments come as parents across Britain face widespread disruption. Hundreds of schools have either moved lessons online, shortened the school day, or closed entirely amid concerns that classroom temperatures could become dangerously high.
Nearly 100 schools in Somerset have announced closures, while around 100 more in Buckinghamshire and dozens across Gloucestershire have introduced partial shutdowns or remote learning arrangements. Other schools have opted for less drastic measures, including relaxing uniform rules and allowing pupils to attend in PE kits.
The closures have sparked fierce debate online, with some parents accusing schools of overreacting.
One caller to LBC radio claimed Britain was “breeding a nation of melts” and argued that children were becoming increasingly unprepared for the realities of adult life.
“We are breeding a nation of melts,” he said. “They are so ill-prepared for what real life in this hard world is like.”
Social media users were equally divided, with some questioning why parents face penalties for taking children out of school while schools themselves can close at short notice.
One commenter wrote: “Why is it that schools can close when it suits them, but if a parent takes their own child out of class for the day they’re threatened with fines and prosecution?”
Another added: “Teachers are just lazy and want the day off.”
Others argued that workers in many industries are expected to continue working despite extreme temperatures and questioned whether school closures were necessary.
The controversy comes as a rare red extreme heat warning remains in place across parts of England and Wales. The Met Office has warned that the unprecedented conditions pose risks not only to vulnerable groups but to the wider population.
Forecasters believe temperatures could challenge Britain’s all-time record of 40.3C, set in July 2022, while experts have suggested the long-standing June record of 35.6C could be comfortably surpassed.
