Why School Should Start Later

RING! RING! The alarm goes off. The still tired student hits the snooze button. For many high school students all across the UK this is a classic weekday morning. Is this because teens are lethargic? No. It is because of the early school starting times. Secondary pupils need a later school start time for many reasons: it gives pupils the opportunity to get their much needed sleep, it improves grades and it helps them be healthier. Many teenagers are not getting enough sleep and this is often due to early school start times.
Adolescent bodies are typically in what scientists call a ‘sleep phase’, which takes place between ages eleven through eighteen. This means that teenage bodies are designed to fall asleep and wake up later. Teenagers need about 9.5 hours of sleep nightly. With the current school starting times teens get only seven hours on average. According to the National Sleep Foundation, about 28% of secondary school students fall asleep
This would improve a pupil’s health as teen caffeine use will decrease if they don’t need to wake up early in the morning. This is good for teenagers that get their energy from caffeine found in energy drinks or coffee. These drinks are full of sugar and calories that are causing teenagers numerous health problems. First and foremost, a later school start time has a clear positive impact on the pupil’s mental health. Students who go to high school that start with a later starting time have generally had fewer problems with issues such as stress, depression, irritation, unhappiness and drugs/alcohol abuse. Along with the obstacle of being sleep deprived departed, teen related car-accidents have decreased, on average, 15% in areas where schools have later starting times in the morning. Staying alive is obviously the most inevitable way to be healthy and having school start later could, indeed help them to live the healthiest life