Flexible school hours based on biorhythms instead of traditional alarm clocks are being trialed. - Schools Test Gliding Time Model in Place of Traditional Alarm Clocks via Biorhythm Approach
In recent developments, vocational schools in the towns of Rinteln and Göttingen, Lower Saxony, have introduced flexible school start times. This move is aimed at better aligning with the sleep patterns of adolescent students, improving their health, and enhancing academic performance.
The motivation behind this change in Rinteln's vocational school is to give students more self-responsibility and to adapt to the biorhythm of older students for better performance. The flexible timetable model, known as "Cool-flex", was introduced in the summer of 2023.
In Göttingen, the vocational school has also adopted the "Cool-flex" model for all students in grade 11 and above. The implementation of this model is due to poor transport connections, as some students have to start their journey as early as 6:00 AM to arrive on time for the first lesson at 7:50 AM.
Similarly, in the IGS Oyten in the district of Verden, students are allowed to "settle in" with conversations or games before the actual start of lessons at 7:45 AM.
It's worth noting that primary school students can relatively cope with an earlier school start, according to research. However, sleep physician Elisabeth Yoshida-Stiksrud from the University Medical Center Göttingen states that a later school start is beneficial for older students.
In Lower Saxony, classes may not begin before 7:30 AM, but schools decide on their own start times individually. This flexibility allows schools to consider factors like parents' work schedules and school bus capacities when deciding school start times.
The Ministry of Education does not want to set any guidelines for school start times. This approach allows schools to find solutions that best suit their unique circumstances, such as the transport challenges faced by schools in Göttingen and Rinteln.
In Göttingen, students can choose some lessons in the subjects German, English, Professional Informatics, and Spanish with the "Cool-flex" model. There are 40 "Cool-hours" available for students to complete these chosen lessons.
In Rinteln's vocational school, students can complete up to five lessons per week at a predetermined time or during free periods or the afternoon. Afternoons are often used for club sports or other hobbies.
Teachers in Rinteln's vocational school have noticed students being more alert, motivated, and concentrated since the introduction of "Cool-flex". This shift towards flexible school start times seems to be providing a positive impact on the students' academic performance and overall well-being.
For detailed, location-specific reasons for Rinteln and Göttingen, it is recommended to consult official local educational authority communications or news reports from Lower Saxony. As the current search results do not cover this topic extensively, further investigation may be necessary to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors leading to the implementation of flexible school start times in these locations.
The flexible school start times introduced in Rinteln's and Göttingen's vocational schools, relying on the "Cool-flex" model, are part of a community policy aimed at promoting education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and learning. This policy also helps build a conducive environment for academic improvement and overall well-being of adolescent students by better aligning with their sleep patterns.
