Climate change affects your ability to spell

Extreme heat is expected to have a significant impact on Australian students’ academic performance, with new research indicating that it could reduce attainment levels by up to seven percent in key subjects, including spelling, writing, grammar and numeracy.

This decline in performance could potentially lead to a loss of over $70,000 in lifetime earnings per student.

Read the latest print edition of School News online HERE.

The Zurich-Mandala Climate Risk Index is a tool designed to assess the effects of climate change across various sectors in Australia. It is a collaboration between Zurich Insurance and Mandala Partners and utilises advanced climate and economic modelling to determine which locations and sectors are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

For the first time, the Zurich-Mandala Climate Risk Index has been utilised to assess the impact of climate change on nearly 10,000 schools across Australia. The findings highlight the growing risks that educators, students, and school communities face as global temperatures rise.

“When we think about climate change, our minds often turn to melting ice caps, rising seas, or the transition away from fossil fuels,” said Amit Singh, Managing Partner of Mandala. “Rarely do we consider its impact on something as specific as our children’s education. Yet… climate change is already reshaping the learning environment for millions of Australian students. 

The growing risk to schools

According to the report, two-thirds of Australian schools already face high climate risks. Without intervention, this figure is expected to rise to 84 percent by 2060 under a moderate warming scenario of 2°C global temperature increase. Extreme heat exposure is a major concern, with students projected to experience 34 heatwave days a year by 2060.

“Perhaps most troubling is how climate risks compound existing inequalities. The same schools already facing socio-educational disadvantage are often those most exposed to climate impacts, creating a double burden for vulnerable communities,” says Amit Singh, Mandala Managing Partner.

According to the report, New South Wales and Queensland have the highest number of schools at risk, with 92 percent and 91percent respectively in the highest risk categories, with The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory following closely behind.

The report also reveals that climate risks disproportionately impact schools in lower Socio-Educational Advantage (SEA) areas. About 80 percent of disadvantaged schools face significant climate risk, compared to 60 percent of highly advantaged schools.

What this means for teachers

Teachers are already on the front lines of climate change, and with almost four million children spending almost half their waking hours at school, there is an urgent need for schools to build resilience against these growing threats.

In recent years, there have been increasing disruptions to the lives of large numbers of students and staff caused by significant weather events, such as floods and bushfires. When schools are closed for extended periods or infrastructure is damaged, the impact on children can be substantial.

“Key social infrastructure, such as Australia’s schools, which currently support the development of more than four million children, have repeatedly suffered the consequences of our changing climate, resulting in reduced capacity to effectively teach and learn,’ Alex Morgan, Head of General Insurance, Zurich Financial Services Australia (Zurich) said.

The report talks about resilience solutions, some of which need to be overseen by governing bodies such as councils and education departments such as ensuring good air conditioning and ventilation, raising critical facilities off the ground and reducing dangerous bushland near school buildings.

It also talks about the need for solutions at a more local level – ensuring students have adequate access to water and providing breaks from learning on hot days.

What else can educators be expected to do?

• Be prepared for increased learning disruptions due to heat-related cognitive challenges.
• Advocate for climate-resilient school infrastructure, such as better ventilation and cooling systems.
• Support students in high-risk areas who may be disproportionately affected by climate impacts.
• Encourage climate education and awareness to help students understand the challenges ahead and take action.

Climate change is no longer a distant problem—it is already impacting Australian classrooms. Schools, policymakers, and communities must work together to mitigate these risks and ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they live.