The heatwave is taking hold across a large swath of the country this Monday, June 22, 2026, with temperatures rising to as high as 40°C in several cities. And as is now customary every summer, many families in Île-de-France and beyond are asking the same question: can you pull a child out of school when the mercury climbs? The answer requires some clarification, between compulsory schooling and the ministry’s call for flexibility.
On paper, yes. Schooling remains mandatory for children aged 3 to 16, and no temperature threshold automatically triggers a suspension of classes. The National Observatory for the Safety and Accessibility of Educational Establishments reminds us that there is no heat cap beyond which school days would be deemed ordinary. In theory, nothing authorizes keeping a child at home solely because of the heat.
In fact, Education Minister Édouard Geffray tempered this obligation during a visit to Poitiers. He called, as an exceptional measure, for a special display of understanding toward parents who choose to keep their children at home this Monday.
The minister notes, however, that schools are often the coolest spot in the neighborhood, helping to protect the well-being and health of both students and teachers. It all rests on a national framework—the heatwave contingency plan—which is then adapted locally, sometimes on a case-by-case basis for each institution.
This Monday, 845 primary schools and middle schools close their doors in France due to the heatwave, while another 1,800 institutions adjust their timetables, releasing students early in the afternoon. On the exams front, around 4,000 baccalaureate candidates have had their oral exams postponed to ensure better conditions.
In practical terms, the procedure starts with informing your child’s school and, beforehand, checking any local guidelines before making a decision. To track temperature trends and alert levels by department, Météo-France’s vigilance map remains the trusted reference, just as communications from the Ministry of National Education.
Heatwaves are no longer exceptional, and the ministry is ready to adapt its practices for the years ahead. Édouard Geffray also announced that the written exams for the Brevet and the Baccalaureate will no longer be held in the afternoon; they will now be scheduled exclusively in the morning.
