UK Immigration Education: According to British media reports, 100 schools in the UK have recently been invited to participate in a research project to stagger student class times, explore schedules suitable for the biological clocks of students of different ages, and investigate whether delaying school start times is beneficial for students aged 14-16.
In this project, schools will arrange for 10-year-old students to start classes at 9:00 AM, while 15-year-old students will begin at 10:00 AM. Scientists believe that the circadian rhythms that determine sleep-wake patterns within a 24-hour cycle change with age, and therefore, starting school too early is not suitable for older students.
According to Dr. Paul Kelley of Harvard University, the research project is funded by the Wellcome Trust to study the role of school start times in education and student well-being.
He stated that students lose more sleep per week than doctors working 24-hour shifts, and many schools choose class times arbitrarily, with most people unable to wake up naturally. In addition, the natural shift in the biological clock within a 24-hour cycle is particularly evident in the 14 to 24 age group, making sleep deprivation most severe in this demographic.
He further noted that this age group often undergoes significant changes, with 50% of mental illnesses occurring during this period, which is likely caused by changes in circadian rhythms and sleep deprivation.
Other research in the United States indicates that students aged 18 and older can benefit from delaying class times until after 11:00 AM. Therefore, Kelley stated that changing class and work hours is urgent, and it is necessary to make appropriate adjustments for schools, companies, prisons, and hospitals.
