Footbaths and WW2 bunker helping keep pupils cool

A school intent on helping pupils stay cool has moved some lessons to an underground bunker - while some children have been sitting with their feet in trays of cold water.

As the temperature in Guernsey reached 33.8C (98.6F) on Tuesday, La Houguette Primary School adopted conventional measures to keep cool including wearing PE kits instead of uniforms, shady lunch breaks and using fans.

But head teacher Claire Judd said they went a step further - cooling their feet in water baths and "nipping in and out" of a World War Two German bunker.

She said some Year 3 children had begun to feel sick in the classroom on Wednesday, which was when their teacher remembered the bunker on their doorstep.

The island is scattered with hundreds of German fortifications built while it was occupied during World War Two.

The children had since been "nipping down" for short cool-off periods, said Judd, with a lesson also taking place in the unusual setting.

She said a Year 5 teacher had suggested the footbath idea and the children "just love it" with one saying it was the "best day in Year 5 ever".

Judd said: "I mean, we've taken them on French residentials, we've given them so many experiences, but sticking your feet in a bucket of water is obviously the best thing ever!"

Beatrix, nine, said of the footbaths: "It's better to keep cool when I'm working and it makes me concentrate more."

Anna, 10, added: "It's a bit strange when someone says 'we're going to put our feet cold water' - but it has helped."

Harry, 10, said the footbaths were "helping a lot", while Ava, 10, said she was pleased they were also allowed to bring fans to school.

Judd said: "Research shows that if they're really hot, cognitive learning goes down."

Despite the extra precautions she said the children were "all tired and a little grumpy" but praised their "fantastic patience".

Meanwhile, whole school assemblies had been "abandoned" to avoid the hot hall, and staff were being sent home "straight away" on the bell, Judd added.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.