http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-27357031

According to the above article, sixth-form lessons at a private school in Surrey are now to start at 13.30, instead of 9.00.  Apparently, this is to allow the students to have a lie-in. Despite being a sixth-former myself last year, I can't help but laugh at the fact that this is actually serious.  You may beg to differ, but is it really that unreasonable to ask a young adult to be awake at 9am on a week day?  Fine, stay in bed all day at the weekend, but surely the discipline of being up and presentable along with the rest of the working world is all part of getting an education?

Here are some flaws that sprung to mind at a first glance:

• By sleeping all morning, students will have wasted half the day.  While some may make up for this lost time by studying later at night, many will spend their evenings relaxing. I have no idea how they are expected to get all their work done if they're spending half the day in bed.  Are they meant to study through the night?  If so, they'll probably put their body-clock so out of sync that they'll be no more alert at 13.30 than they previously were at 9.00.  
• In the same way, getting up later will probably mean going to bed later, which seems to undo any positive effect of this idea.  Even taking the "delayed-phase clock" into account, if the students are sleeping for the same number of hours as before, then they are unlikely to be much 'more productive' when they do make it into lessons.
• Not everyone fits the 'lazy student' stereotype.  What about those who are naturally early risers?  Are they expected to lounge around all morning, or start their studying at 9 or 10am and carry on through until 19.00?  This seems very unfair and will just cause these students to become exhausted.
• How will students continue with a jobs or any extra-curricular activities that they do?  It seems unlikely that many clubs/music groups/societies/sports practices will take place before midday or after about eight in the evening.  As well as taking away the personal and social benefits of these things, this will also give students less to put on their personal statement or CV, meaning that they are less likely to get into university or get a job.
• The 'working day' begins at 9, or earlier.  Upon leaving school, these students will undoubtedly have some difficultly adjusting to a 9-5 job or a 9am lecture.
• The fact that many students "did not sleep sufficiently during the week" can probably be partially blamed on staying up late watching TV and checking Facebook etc, rather than the "delayed" biological clock.  Going into school later won't change this.