RESEARCHERS in Oxford are recruiting schools for a study that will allow students to have a lie-in.

GCSE students will test whether starting at school at 10am could help them perform better at school.

The trial, led by experts at the universities of Birmingham, Oxford and Aberdeen, will see some students deviate from the traditional start time.

The study will focus on GCSE students from Year 10 and 11, and secondary schools across the UK have been invited to take part.

Professor Paul Montgomery, lead researcher from the University of Birmingham, said: "We want people to be aware that sleep deprivation in adolescents is a real problem which affects their functioning, their wellbeing and even their academic performance.

"We want to work with schools, with parents, pupils, teachers, headteachers, support staff, local education authorities and civil servants to run a number of studies to find out what the ideal starting time is, and how schools can manage this."

In 2014 the University of Oxford launched a major four-year study called Teensleep, which also investigates delayed school start times and the provision of sleep education for youngsters.

It is not clear if the new recruitment drive is part of the same study.