Finally a scientific excuse for why you are late to school, university, or work; it makes you smarter.
That is the view of top neuroscientist Paul Kelley at least, who has suggested a later start to the day for pupils and staff alike would yield up to a 10% increase in exam results.
Kelley presented his case at the British Science Festival, Bradford, on Tuesday. He believes that it is not until the age of 55 that we are ready to work as early as 9AM.
Kelley states:
Staff should start at 10am. You don’t get back to [a natural 9am schedule] starting point until 55. Staff are usually sleep-deprived. We’ve got a sleep-deprived society. It is hugely damaging on the body’s systems because you are affecting physical emotional and performance systems in the body.
In a bid to prove the theory, Kelley, along with Dr Russell Foster, will lead a trial called Teensleep where the results of students starting the day at ten will be compared to those who start at nine.
Previous studies have taken place in the US with positive results prompting the American Academy of Paediatrics to change its stance in 2014, suggesting US schools change their hours of operation.
I don’t mean to put pressure on students from the 100 participating schools who enter the 10am group, but don’t fuck it up.
In your hands is the power to change the nature of the working day for us all, so make that extra hour count!
