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Research links later school start times with students’ academic performance and attendance. There are multiple positive effects that students experience when they receive more sleep. Here are some key findings from studies examining the impact of later school start times:
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Enhanced Academic Performance: Several studies have found a correlation between later school start times and an improved academic performance. For example, a study published in the journal ‘Sleep’ analysed data from over 9,000 secondary school students who attended schools with later start times. The results showed that these students had higher grades and mean scores overall.
Other studies have reported similar results, with some schools in the US that have officially implemented a later start time. This has been met with an improved performance in core subjects like Mathematics, English and Science. Here is a compilation of the benefits of later school start times.
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Increased Attendance and Punctuality: Starting school later has been linked to better attendance rates and reduced tardiness. Students are more likely to arrive at school on time and attend their classes regularly if given the opportunity to get more sleep due to later start times. The increase in punctuality can have a significant impact on overall academic engagement and achievement.
Improved Sleep Patterns: Do not underestimate the benefits that can be reaped from a consistent sleep schedule. It is important to listen to one’s body and what it needs. Adolescents, in particular, often experience a shift in their internal sleep-wake rhythms. This leads to a natural inclination towards later bedtimes and waking up later in the morning. Therefore, early school start times can disrupt this natural sleep pattern, resulting in insufficient sleep. A later school start time aligns better with students’ sleep needs, allowing them to get adequate rest and improve their overall sleep quality.
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Enhanced Mental and Physical Health: Students’ overall health depends on getting enough sleep. Later school start times are associated with improved mental health benefits, such as reduced rates of depression, anxiety and mood disturbances. Additionally, increased sleep duration has been linked to lower rates of obesity, better physical health and a lower risk of certain health issues such as cardiovascular problems.
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Reduced Risky Behaviours: Lack of sleep has been associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in risky behaviours among adolescents, which may include substance abuse, unhealthy eating habits and decreased physical activity. By allowing students to obtain adequate sleep, later start times may contribute to healthier lifestyle choices and a reduction in risky behaviours.
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Implementing later school start times, however, may require adjustments in transport, extracurricular activities and other logistical considerations, although a later school start time in Singaporean institutions should be seriously considered taking into account the numerous benefits.
Seattle Public Schools, for example, implemented this system of starting school later. It took more than a year for Seattle Public Schools to implement this enormous project. This involved changing school start times district-wide and also the times for extracurricular activities. Buses for children were reassigned. However, the students’ academic performance, attendance and overall well-being showed that later school start times can be beneficial for educational institutions and students alike.
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Recently, MP Jamus Lim suggested that Singaoporean schools should start at a later time so that students can sleep longer. He quoted the same benefits mentioned above. This may in fact be much needed as a study ranked Singapore as the third most sleep-deprived city. In average, Singaporeans receive only 6 or less hours of sleep. Though this may be a norm to us, most countries tend to receive more sleep and rest in general. A Singaporean student is likely to get even less sleep than an adult because of the early school start times and other academic activities they are expected to participate in. Hence, an early school start time would work in favour of both the students and teachers.
