Why We Should Start Later In High School

The first bell for most high schools in Australia generally sounds at anywhere between 8:30 and 9:00am. This has always been the case, but is this actually causing teenagers more harm than good? Many studies have proven so, which is why I firmly believe that the school day should start later for high school students. Even starting the school day an hour later than the current start time will, in several ways, benefit students enormously. Students will inevitably achieve better grades, their health will be improved in the long run and this change will generally be more convenient for themselves and their families.

To begin with, having more time to sleep in the morning will inevitably lead to better grades and an improved academic performance for high school students. Students will not be forced to get up at an unnatural time and therefore will wake up feeling refreshed and energized. This will lead to them being more focused and alert in class. A teenager’s body clock is biologically predisposed to go to sleep at around midnight and not be fully awake and engaged until between 9am and 10am. If teenagers are supposed to attend lessons before they are fully awake how can we expect them to understand, process and learn the material? Not getting enough sleep affects a teenagers cognitive ability meaning
Students will have an improved academic performance, they will be happier and healthier, and they will have more time in the mornings to get ready for school so they can come to school feeling relaxed. With all the benefits that have been proven to come with starting school later it is ignorant not to do anything about it. Changing the school day, even making it later by an hour, will make a huge difference to the students and is a step that is essential to ensure Australian teenagers are happy, healthy and reaching their full potential at