Years 7-10

A smarter, healthier learning day

Your child’s learning day formally finishes at 1:00 pm – on purpose.

This isn’t “less school.”
It’s better-timed learning.

Studies in adolescent development and sleep science show that children and teenagers experience a real early-afternoon dip in focus and memory. Instead of dragging students through their most tired hours, we place the important learning before lunch, when the brain is sharpest.

Years 7–8 (younger adolescents)

• Short, focused lessons to keep attention high
• Early finish to prevent overwhelm and meltdown
• Long afternoons free for rest, reading, play, hobbies and family

Years 9–10 (older adolescents)

• Longer lessons for deeper thinking in the morning
• A 1:00 pm finish so homework can be done later in the day, when teens hit their natural “second focus peak”
• Space for sport, performing arts, work, training and downtime

Across Years 7–10, students learn when their brains are naturally ready – not just when a timetable says they should.

Why 1:00 pm matters – what the research says

The 1:00 pm finish is backed by sleep and learning research from organisations and journals such as:

• American Academy of Pediatrics & American Academy of Sleep Medicine – later learning and reduced afternoon load improve mood, behaviour and academic outcomes.
• Frontiers in Human Neuroscience & related brain studies – adolescents perform best in mid-morning, with a noticeable drop just after midday and a second “focus peak” later in the afternoon.
• The Sleep Foundation & OECD reports – shorter, well-timed days support better sleep, lower stress and more efficient learning.

In simple terms:

• The morning is the best time for new learning.
• Right after lunch is the worst time for focused schoolwork.
• Late afternoon (around 3:30–6:00 pm) is ideal for homework, practice questions and revision.

So at BDC Horizon Online:

• We teach new concepts in the morning.
• We finish by 1:00 pm to avoid the least productive hours.
• We encourage students to use late afternoon for homework during their natural second energy peak.

The result? Students remember more, feel better, and have the time and energy to live a full life outside school.

The 7–10 learning journey online