Heat-free for the upper grades: Lower Saxony reacts to summer heat!

Heat-free for the upper grades: Lower Saxony reacts to summer heat!

The summer heat over Lower Saxony makes school operations a challenge. From now on, upper school students are also entitled to heat-free. This innovation came into force on June 27, 2025 and represents an important step in adapting school operations to rising temperatures. Heat-free was previously reserved exclusively for primary school students and lower secondary school classes, but now high schools such as the “Gymnasium in der Wüste” in Osnabrück and the Viktoria-Luise-Gymnasium in Hameln are also affected. On Monday the classes there were sent home after the sixth hour and on Tuesday the lessons sometimes ended after the fourth hour.

Headmaster Nils Fischer from the high school in the desert emphasized that the classrooms were very hot due to the previous hot days. The regulations have been adapted by the Ministry of Culture to take into account the reality of increasingly extreme heat waves. However, the decision about heat-free remains at the discretion of the school management, although no specific outside temperatures are specified. However, before announcing heat-free, schools must first take alternative measures to cool rooms. This means that regular drinking breaks have to be introduced or rooms have to be ventilated at night in order to keep the temperatures tolerable. Stressful temperatures in the classroom are therefore an issue that must be addressed specifically.

New heat-free concept and school management

The circular from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture dated January 18, 2021 was updated to regulate the heat-free period for the primary and lower secondary levels. What is new in the current regulation is the inclusion of secondary level II, which also applies to vocational training courses provided that these do not lead to a vocational school qualification. The Lower Saxony State Student Council welcomed this decision after many students had previously called for a new concept for heat-free. Classes often continued in the upper grades despite high temperatures, which is now a thing of the past.

In order to successfully implement these new regulations, the school transport providers must also be informed about early end of classes. Violations of supervision obligations, especially for students who come to school despite classes being canceled, must be avoided. This would include, for example, emergency care in the event of a heat crisis or clear information for parents and students.

Health hazards and heat protection

Protecting children and school employees from the health consequences of heat plays a central role. According to the recommendations, adapting school operations during heat waves is essential. The German Weather Service (DWD) provides important heat warnings that should be forwarded to the school community as quickly as possible. The recommended measures include adjusting break times and creating cool outdoor areas - for example by unsealing and greening schoolyards.

Overall, it is clear that school operations must be adapted to the challenges of the summer heat. With the new heat-free regulation, Lower Saxony is taking a step in the right direction to protect students, parents and teachers while at the same time conveying the lesson material in a meaningful way. But future measures are also necessary to make the final spurt in the school season successful.

This provides further details on the regulation of the heat exemption in Lower Saxony NDR, while that Lower Saxony education portal provides comprehensive information about the school organization. Anyone interested in heat protection in schools will find valuable tips here heatservice.de.