Schoolchildren 'more alert and attentive in the afternoon'
Schoolchildren may be more alert, awake and ready to learn in the afternoon than they are in the morning, according to new research.
The study, conducted by the University of Oxford as part of the BBC Terrific Scientific educational campaign, analysed the sleep diaries of 900 children aged nine to 11, and discovered trends that challenged conventional wisdom about the best time to schedule lessons.
Sleep diaries covered three days on either side of the clocks going forward on March 26th, while a series of tests were also carried out to measure children's tiredness and reaction times in the morning and afternoon.
It was found that 68 per cent of participants described themselves as being more of an "evening type", with greater energy levels and higher alertness later in the day, meaning they tended to be sleepier in the morning than the afternoon.
The research also showed that sleep time for the children increased by an average of 30 minutes after the clock-change weekend, contradicting expectations that an hour's sleep would be lost. This was because pupils woke up ten minutes later on average in the morning after the clock change.
These findings may come as a surprise to many primary schools, which often arrange their timetables around the idea that children are more focused and alert in the morning, meaning maths and literacy lessons tend to be held early in the day.
Katharina Wulff, an Oxford University research lecturer who specialises in sleep, said: "Results were surprising in two ways - first, that children slept longer after the clock change; secondly, their reaction time was faster in the afternoon than in the morning.
"The investigation provides a great example of how schoolchildren can get directly involved in research, proving perceived public wisdom wrong."
Sign up to posts
Related jobs
Salary
£85 - 95 per day
Location free text
Torquay
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
Less than £100 per day
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Torquay
Description
Location: Torquay, UKPosition Type: Full-time, Permanent, or Flexible Supply OpportunitiesStart Date: 7th May 2024Employer: Teaching PersonnelAbout Us: Teaching Personnel is a leading education recrui
Reference
TPP/JB/5631
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Plymouth BranchAuthor
Plymouth BranchSalary
£120 - 150 per day
Location free text
Gateshead
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Teacher
Location
Gateshead
Description
Position: Fully Qualified Primary TeacherLocation: GatesheadAre you an execptional fully qualified Teacher, with experience teaching primary students and currently looking for flexible work?Teaching P
Reference
teach1904
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Tyne Tees PrimaryAuthor
Tyne Tees PrimarySalary
£600 - 800 per week
Location free text
Northumberland
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£500 - £749 per week
Sector
Teacher
Location
Northumberland
Description
Join Our Team as a Supply Teacher with Teaching Personnel!Are you a passionate educator ready to make a difference? Teaching Personnel is looking for enthusiastic supply teachers to join our dedicated
Reference
SS123ST
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Tyne Tees PrimaryAuthor
Tyne Tees PrimarySalary
£120 - 150 per day
Location free text
Gateshead
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Primary
Location
Gateshead
Description
Are you a Fully Qualified Teacher Looking for Guarenteed work? Give Teaching Personnel exclusivity and full availability and we an assure you work! Depending on how many days you are available Teachin
Reference
GWSTeach1904
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Tyne Tees PrimaryAuthor
Tyne Tees PrimarySalary
£420 - 475 per week
Location free text
Horsham
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Horsham
Description
Autism child WorkerLooking for a caring and compassionate Autism child Worker for a mainstream primary school in Horsham to support children with complex learning difficulties and Autism between 11 an
Reference
ASC CHILD WORKER
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Brighton PrimaryAuthor
Brighton PrimarySalary
£135 - 150 per day
Location free text
Chichester
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£30 per hour and above
Sector
KS1 - Year 1
Location
Chichester
Description
Job Title: KS1 TeacherLocation: ChichesterPosition Type: Full-time, PermanentSalary: Competitive, based on experience and qualificationsAre you passionate about early childhood education and dedicated
Reference
aopf veibgo;h
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Hampshire PrimaryAuthor
Hampshire PrimarySalary
£12.90 - 13.50 per hour
Location free text
Crawley
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
West Sussex
Description
Graduate Teaching Assistant in Crawley NeededIf you are a recent graduate and are looking for either full-time or part-time work within the Crawley area then Teaching Personnel can offer you a variet
Reference
Graduate TA FT
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Brighton PrimaryAuthor
Brighton PrimarySalary
£84 - 95 per day
Location free text
Stretford
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Greater Manchester
Description
Behaviour Support Assistant – Stretford (M32)Teaching Personnel are seeking an empathetic Behaviour Support Assistant to make a positive impact on the lives of young learners with Social, Emotional an
Reference
FLPBSAST
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Manchester West SENAuthor
Manchester West SENSalary
£12.90 - 13.50 per hour
Location free text
Horsham
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Horsham
Description
Are you passionate about supporting children in their educational journey? We are currently seeking dedicated Teaching Assistants to join our team at Teaching Personnel and make a difference in the li
Reference
Supply TA
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Brighton PrimaryAuthor
Brighton PrimarySalary
£130 - 160 per day
Location free text
Sunderland
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Teacher
Location
Tyne and Wear
Description
Are you a primary school qualified teacher in the Sunderland area? Are you passionate about providing quality primary education? Are you looking for a flexible and/or regular role that allows you to d
Reference
TeachFT1904
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Tyne Tees PrimaryAuthor
Tyne Tees PrimaryRelated posts
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
Planning for the Easter break? The Teaching Personnel payroll team wants to make sure you get paid on time. This table outlines the Easter 2024 payroll date, along with the corresponding deadline
by
Adam Davies
Teaser
Supply TeachingContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
Table of Contents 1. Why do people become supply teachers? 2. What does it take to become a supply teacher? 3. How can I find work as a supply teacher? <!-- b--> 4. How shou
by
Alex Schulte
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision in schools is a critical aspect of education that demands attention in 2024. According to the Department for Education, over 1.5 million pupils in England
Teaser
Multi-Academy TrustsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Laura Williams is an education leadership coach with fifteen years of leadership experience in education across business, operations, HR, finance and governance. She is a former Business Manager, CO
by
Scott Owen
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Creating a safe and nurturing environment for pupils is paramount in the age of evolving social dynamics. One issue that has gained significant attention in recent years is the distinction between
by
Adam Davies
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson addressed the Labour Party conference in October, where she announced plans to reform primary maths. Currently, one in four children leave primary school
Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD10YY
Summary
Mock exams are a crucial milestone in a pupil's academic journey, serving as a practice run for the real deal. As educators, you play a pivotal role in helping pupils navigate through these trial ex
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
In the fast-moving world of education, headteachers and schools face the challenge of ensuring a continuous and reliable supply of qualified teachers. Unforeseen teacher absences due to staff sickness
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
Embarking on the journey to become an educator is both exhilarating and demanding. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is crucial to achieving your teaching ambitions. The road ahead
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD08YY
Summary
Teaching is a rewarding profession that plays a crucial role in shaping our society's future. However, it comes with its challenges. The workload can be demanding, which might sometimes lead to feelin
Register with us
for a choice of classroom roles
Register today
Recent job