Different school start times trialled

Pupils at four primary schools in Plymouth, Devon are trialling a system where they choose what time to come into school.

The Department for Education is funding the experiment where pupils can start lessons at 7.45am or 11 am. In the Southernway Federation, around 30 children have opted for the 7.45 to 1pm run at Southway School and around 20 chose 11am to 4.30pm at Tamerton Vale Primary.

All groups will be tested before and after the trial to assess whether learning capacities have been enhanced by working at different times. Parents will keep diaries to record any problems.

Mark Lees, head teacher at Southway Primary said, "Research says different children learn better at different times of the day. And many parents are shift workers and have problems getting children to school in the morning too."