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Diary of a TeacherAuthor: Sarah Durack
Diary of a Teacher is a spoken diary of my experiences in education to date. I record short eps about everything from report writing to reflective practice. I share honest reflections from the classroom, lessons I've learned the hard way, and insights from educational research that shape how I teach. Language: en-gb Genres: Courses, Education, How To Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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4: Do later start times actually make a difference to student outcomes?
Episode 4
Monday, 26 January, 2026
After finishing a fascintating book called Why We Sleep by Prof. Matt Walker, I found myself trying to help a student get started on her exam revision in a visual arts cover lesson. She tells me she's had 4 hours sleep because she went to bed at midnight but had to set an alarm for 4am to finish an English task due that day. She isn't very hopeful that the revision will stick, and neither am I. In this episode, I provide no final answers but enjoy having a good chat about the science of sleep, and how good sleep does seem to improve student outcomes. Literature etc. I consulted for this episode includes: Wahlstrom, K., Dretzke, B., Gordon, M., Peterson, K., Edwards, K., & Gdula, J. (2014). Examining the impact of later school start times on the health and academic performance of high school students: A multi-site study. Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, University of Minnesota. Owens, J. A., Belon, K., & Moss, P. (2010). Impact of delaying school start time on adolescent sleep, mood, and behavior. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 164(7), 608–614. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2820578 Minges, K. E., & Redeker, N. S. (2016). Delayed school start times and adolescent sleep: A systematic review of the experimental evidence. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 28, 82–91. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3878844 University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry. (2018). Department faculty highlight the role of adolescent sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions in risk. https://psychiatry.pitt.edu/news/department-faculty-highlight-role-adolescent-sleep-and-circadian-rhythm-disruptions-risk Sleep Foundation. (2023). Later school start times. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/school-and-sleep/later-school-start-times Bowers, J. M., & Moyer, C. A. (2020). Effects of school start time on students' sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and attendance: A meta-analysis. Sleep Health, 6(3), 303–311. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2451965020301009 Owens, J. A., & Weiss, M. R. (2025). Behavioral sleep problems in children. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/behavioral-sleep-problems-in-children Edutopia. (2023). School start time changes benefit sleep. https://www.edutopia.org/article/school-start-time-changes-benefit-sleep If you have a topic you would like covered, write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com. Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
