Should Stoke-on-Trent high schools start at 10am to help out 'tired teenagers'?

While parents square up to the hectic school-run with a sense of trepidation, the morning rush hour can pale in comparison to getting their children out of bed.

But thousands say pupils should be afforded more of a lie-in with the school day starting at 10am to make sure they're suitably rested.

Now the issue of the time the morning bell goes is set to be debated by MPs on Monday after an online petition - started because 'teenagers are too tired' in the mornings - received more than 177,000 signatures.

The petition, started by Hannah Kidner, states: "Teenagers are so tired due to having to wake up very early to get to school.

"The Government should require secondary schools to start later, which will lead to increased productivity at school."

Back in 2015 scientists said that starting school at 10am could have some benefits to teenagers with research suggesting adolescents in particular have a 'late-running biological rhythm'.

Meanwhile, research by the Open University in 2017 found teenagers who started school at 10am rather than 8.30am had improved grades and were off sick less often.

But parents in North Staffordshire have been left divided by the idea.

Mum Vikki Hollins says she is all for a later start. The 37-year-old, who has three children aged 12, 14, and 16, believes there would be benefits for everyone.

Vikki, of Chesterton, said: "The kids told me about this and I am actually for it.

"I reckon more kids would go to school and not fake an illness as they would have time to get a substantial breakfast and be more awake and ready for school.

"My kids are always moody and tired in the morning so it would definitely help them as I would get them up as normal before I go to work."

Jemma Cartlidge's daughters have different start times at their schools with 12-year-old Rhiannon's starting at 8.25am at Chesterton Community Sports College while five-year-old Ebony's day gets underway at 8.50am at St Chad's Primary School. 

Jemma, aged 31, of Waterhayes, said: "Although she starts earlier I find Rhi is less tired after school than Ebony. I don't agree with a 10am start. If a child is fed well, has a stable routine, gets to bed at a reasonable time, I don't see why they would be tired in the morning. Rhi gets up at 7am and is out the door for 8.10am."

Teenager Lizzie Barnish, a former Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy pupil, is against later starts at high schools.

The 18-year-old, of Newstead, who is currently studying English at college, said: "When I compare high school start times to college times it makes me value the early mornings. Starting early means an earlier finish most of the time. It is harder to motivate yourself to do independent study in the morning when you have a later start so finishing earlier sets me up nicely for studying in the afternoon.

"It's already hard to encourage high school pupils to do their homework after school when they finish at 3pm so a later start will only discourage finding time for homework."

Her mum Justine added: "Going into school early gets them ready for working life.  You don't have a boss who will let you start an hour later just because you're 'too tired'."

Bev Waller, whose two children are now grown up, agrees with Justine. Bev, aged 55, of Trentham, said: "For some teenagers the next step from high school can be work and 10am isn't normally a start time. If they say they're too tired now, then how will they integrate into the workplace?

"If they join the Army I don't think a sergeant would take kindly to them being unable to get up."

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