HEALS: Heat, Health and Learning: Co-Designing Climate- Resilient Strategies for Primary Schools in Oxfordshire

Anthropogenic climate change is projected to increase the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves across the United Kingdom, leading to hotter and drier summers that pose substantial risks to children’s health, wellbeing and learning. In Oxfordshire, these risks are already evident: an estimated 205,000 residents live in high heat-risk areas and around 130 schools are considered particularly vulnerable.

This doctoral study will adopt a mixed-methods approach to investigate and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat on health, wellbeing and learning of primary school pupils and staff. In collaboration with schools and local councils, the project will assess overheating and indoor air quality risks in a representative sample of primary schools across Oxfordshire through continuous monitoring of indoor temperature, carbon dioxide and airborne pollutants. This will provide insights into how heat accumulates within classrooms and how it influences comfort, concentration and wellbeing.

This PhD project will investigate how summer heat affects indoor conditions, health, wellbeing, and learning in Oxfordshire primary schools.  Working with the Low Carbon Building Research Group and Oxfordshire County Council, the student will monitor classroom temperatures and air quality, explore the experiences of pupils and staff, and codesign simple, low cost cooling and shading solutions such as improved ventilation and outdoor shading. The research will assess how practical and effective these measures are in real school settings and evaluate their wider benefits for pupil wellbeing and learning.

The findings will inform clear guidance and recommendations for schools and local authorities. The project will link closely with the recently funded £7.4 million HEARTH programme, the National Research Hub on Net Zero, Health and Extreme Heat.