Senior students switched on after a sleep-in

A video documentary by a team of junior scientists at Wellington High School has helped persuade teachers to allow senior students extra time in bed in the mornings.

The video by Hannah Newport, Josh Barnes and Joe Russell about teenage sleep patterns convinced the school that year 12 and year 13 students did not have to start lessons until 10.15am.

School principal Prue Kelly said senior pupils had all been given the same daily study period at the start of the day.

This had moved back the start of their actual lessons.

"The kids are telling us it's really good, and senior lateness has just about vanished," she said.

Ms Kelly said studies of school students had shown late nights and sleep deprivation could lead to learning difficulties because deep, dream-filled sleep helped consolidate long-term memory, even though many teenagers thought they could get along without sleep.

Students at the school participated in a study by Massey University's Sleep/Wake Research Centre in Wellington.

Dr Philippa Gander of the centre found evidence that in some teenagers their body clock slips, and they need to sleep later. The research also showed it was important for teenagers to catch up on their sleep at weekends.

Organisers of the Hot Science competition said the students' video on teenage sleep patterns was extremely professional.

- NZPA