As Australian students brace for a heatwave, is it true that schools close when the temperature exceeds 40C?
Children are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat because they sweat more, have a higher metabolism and spend more time outside, one expert warns
School’s back this week across most of the country, with term one kicking off under scorchingly hot conditions in some places.
As students in Melbourne and Adelaide enter week two, temperatures will soar into the high 30s and above, while in Perth, the return to school on Wednesday coincides with a forecast maximum temperature of 38C.
More frequent and extreme heat due to the climate crisis is a growing concern for parents given the risks to children’s health and education, according to the Parents for Climate chief executive, Nic Seton.
“A lot of kids are going back to school in states that are in the middle of a heatwave,” he said. “We saw that last year; we saw it the year before.”
As parents gather up stationery, books and lunchbox supplies, some may be wondering how schools in their state or territory are preparing to face the heat.
Do schools stay open when it’s 40-plus?
Belying the urban myth of the 40C early mark, there isn’t a temperature trigger for school closures, according to state and territory education departments.
Most departments advise schools to remain open, even in heatwave conditions, with early dismissal or temporary closure considered a last resort in emergency situations.
In Western Australia, preventive closures due to extreme heat and fire risk are based on the advice of fire authorities, or the health department in the case of a heatwave, according to Steve Watson, the deputy director general for schools.
Parents could choose to keep their child at home during heatwaves, he said, with a principal’s agreement.
In South Australia, principals have the option to dismiss students early, a departmental spokesperson said, but “schools are urged to use this with caution as early dismissal may expose some students to greater heat risks in their own homes or from travelling during the hottest part of the day”.
But Parents for Climate has been noticing more and more schools closing because of extreme weather – heatwaves, bushfires, storms and floods – particularly during summer, which is affecting not just learning but also parents’ ability to work.
To create more resilient learning environments, the advocacy group wants all schools and childcare centres to be equipped with air conditioning powered by onsite solar and batteries.
According to Unicef, the education of one in seven students around the world was interrupted by climate events in 2024. Heatwaves were the biggest disrupter, affecting 171 million students.
Are all classrooms air conditioned?
Every public school in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory has access to air conditioned learning spaces, according to education department spokespeople.
Queensland also had air conditioning in “every classroom, library and staff room” in every Queensland state school, an education department spokesperson said.
Other jurisdictions are making progress but Parents for Climate estimates that hundreds of New South Wales schools have no air conditioning.
A NSW education department spokesperson said that since July 2024, the government had “delivered millions in funding to repair and replace air conditioning units statewide ahead of summer”.
In Victoria, air conditioning is provided “based on the location of the school and the type of buildings classes are taught in”, a departmental spokesperson said.
Is there an impact on teaching and learning?
Adequate cooling isn’t the only concern in a heatwave, according to Correna Haythorpe, federal president of the Australian Education Union.
Haythorpe, who has direct experience of teaching in extreme heat, said when students were kept inside at lunchtime, they didn’t get to play and “let off steam” – no pun intended.
The task of supervising hundreds of children indoors – in classrooms and corridors – requires “all hands on deck” from staff, she said, which means teachers often don’t get a break.
Extreme heat and dehydration is a health, safety and wellbeing concern for staff and students, she said, with high temperatures making it harder for everyone to focus on teaching and learning.
Research shows the best learning temperature is between 22 and 24C – learning gets harder every degree it increases.
All states and territories recommend schools make adjustments during excessive heat – postponing sports or outdoor excursions, moving activities indoors, and encouraging students to drink plenty of water.
Queensland guidanceincludes postponing or cancelling physical activity when the temperature exceeds 36C and relative humidity is more than 30%.
What are the health risks?
Heatwaves are Australia’s deadliest natural phenomenon, killing more people than bushfires, floods and storms.
Children are particularly vulnerable, according to Michelle Isles, the chief executive of the Climate and Health Alliance.
“Children sweat more per kilogram,” she said. “They’ve got a higher metabolism, which means they get hot quicker. They also spend a lot more time outside.”
But the signs of heatstroke and stress aren’t as obvious in children, she warned.
While some states have policies, Isles said there should be minimum requirements for cool classrooms, including backup plans in case of power outages and clear triggers for when it’s too hot to play outside.
Ideally, heat plans would include safe travel to and from school, she said, such as cooler pathways for walking and cycling and preventing idling at pick up times.
What can parents do?
Parents are encouraged to send their children to school with a water bottle, hat and insulated lunchbox, and wearing sunscreen.
For quick advice, Seton recommends Heatwatch, a University of Sydney tool that forecasts heat health risks and provides tips to stay cool.
Cover photo: Children should come to school wearing sunscreen and a sun hat, and carrying a water bottle and insulated lunchbox. Photograph: IPGGutenbergUKLtd/Getty Images/iStockphoto
