ISLAND: A later school start = better student health? Experience from Reykjavík

Does the start time of the school day affect the total length of sleep and thus the health and overall well-being of students? Research shows that it does. A pilot project in Reykjavík shifted the start of school from 8:30 to 9:10 (by 40 minutes) and the results are clear: students sleep better, are less tired, more focused and exhibit less risky behavior.

Basic information

Name of the city/town/region:	ISLAND / Iceland
Surname, firstname:	Harpa Thorsteinsdottir
Organization:	Reykjavik city
E-mail:	harpa.thorsteinsdottir@reykjavik.is
Subject:	Duševní zdraví Školy, školská zařízení, knihovny, vzdělávací centra - budovy, vybavení, personál; planování Kvalita a prostupnost vzdělávání; inovativní aktivity škol; poradenství pro rodiče

Description and outputs
Describe the main purpose / aim of your activity / project. What were its side effects or secondary results?	In Reykjavík, the pilot phase of a project took place in 2023/24, the aim of which was to find out if moving the start of school lessons would improve the quality of students' sleep and thus their academic results and overall well-being. This pilot project aimed to reduce sleep deficit, alleviate social jetlag (the discrepancy between biological and social time) and promote mental health through longer sleep. In addition to the schedule change, the project also included a sleep education program that was implemented in collaboration with sleep experts. Project results Key Stats: • Average sleep duration: o Students with a shifted start of the school day (group 1) slept an average of 40 minutes longer than students in the control group (no schedule change). o Only 4% of late-start students slept less than 7 hours a night, compared to 25% in the regular-schedule groups. • Social jetlag: o Students with later starts had an average social jetlag of 46 minutes, while students with regular schedules showed 109 minutes. This reduction means a significant reduction in negative effects on health and school performance. Satisfaction rating: • Questionnaires: Most students and teachers said they preferred later school starts, with 85% of teachers saying the change was positive for learning. • Improvements in health: Students reported less fatigue and better sleep quality than students in the earlier start groups. Thanks to the evident results of that project, Reykjavík City Council decided that for the next 3 years, all elementary schools will have the start of classes moved to 8:50, or later, according to the preferences of each school.
Were the implemented activities documented?	https://skemman.is/handle/1946/44821?locale=en
Start of activity:	01.01.2023
How was the activity funded?	The costs of the project were covered by the budget of the city of Reykjavík and contributions from the Icelandic Directorate of Health.
Recommendations and inspiration
What recommendations / advice can be deduced from the implementation of your activities and provided to other municipalities with a similar intention?	• Education among students: The inclusion of educational programs on the importance of sleep has led to greater awareness among students and parents. • Adaptation to local conditions: Iceland's geography and specific light conditions throughout the year require targeted approaches to sleep management. • Cooperation with experts: The involvement of specialists and universities was the key to the successful implementation of the project
Risk, obstacles and positive moments in the implementation process
During the implementation of the activities / project, did you encounter an event that fundamentally affected the implementation?	• Positive moments: Great support from teachers and students enabled the smooth implementation of the project. • Obstacles: Moving classrooms to a more distant building during the project resulted in longer commutes, which may have partially eliminated the benefits of a later start to the school day.
Monitoring and evaluation
Has the impact of the implemented activity / project been measured and evaluated in any way?	The project was evaluated using objective sleep measurements (smart watches) and questionnaires. The obtained results showed a significant improvement in the length and quality of sleep in students with a later start to the school day. These findings confirm that changing the school schedule can have a major impact on adolescent health and well-being.
Attachment	příloha monitorování a evaluace ()
Do you plan to further develop/maintain the activity/project?	Yes, based on the pilot project, the Reykjavík City Council approved a continuation: for three years, all elementary schools in Reykjavík will start at 8:50 a.m. at the earliest, but even later if a particular school chooses. A further evaluation will then take place.
Media, promotion
How was the communication with the media and what were the media outcomes?	Information about the project was regularly shared through local newspapers and social media, helping to raise public awareness and gain wider support. More for example here: https://www.icelandreview. com/news/reykjavik-delays-school-start-for-teens-in-sleep-health-initiative
Partakers
Name:	město Reykjavík, Island
Company number or other registration data:	530269–7609
Address:	Tjarnargata 11, 101 Reykjavik
Web:	https://reykjavik.is/
Another partakers
Název:	Dr. Erla Bjornsdottir, odbornice z Centra pro zdravý spánek
Web:	https://www.betrisvefn.is/