Progress has been made to resolve the heating problems at Hitchin Boys’ School, with older students set to return to classes on Monday.

Most pupils were sent home at 12.30pm yesterday, as temperatures in the school fell below the govenment-defined minimum of 18°C amid a lack of heating in most of the building.

The majority of students were told to stay home today, with Year 11 and 13 lessons going ahead in rooms with electrical heating. Engineers have been on site digging exploratory trenches to find the source of the problem.

Head Martin Brown said this afternoon: “Our heating issues are now close to a solution – however the processes involved mean that there will definitely be no heating on Monday, but things should be improving by Tuesday.”

The school has proposed to have lessons for Year 11, 12 and 13 students on Monday, with adjusted timetables communicated that morning after students arrive and register as normal.

The plan is to then have all students and staff in as normal on Tuesday – by which time Mr Brown said: “It will still be cold in classrooms, but will be improving – so dress appropriately.”

He added: “My apologies again for the inconvenience – however, the end is in sight.”