Youngsters told policymakers that they think their school day is too short and want to be able to come in earlier or stay later.

Education Minister Cathy Jamieson revealed the "surprising" views to a teachers' conference in Edinburgh.

She said she was willing to consider the idea, but told teachers it would not mean longer hours for them.

Cathy Jamieson: "Surprising"

The idea surfaced as part of the national debate on education launched by Ms Jamieson after she became a cabinet minister last year.

She told the Educational Institute of Scotland conference: "It is interesting to note that the issues raised by young people are often quite different to what many adults might expect them to be.

"In particular I have been struck by the number of people who think we need to make fundamental changes to the school day.

"Perhaps surprisingly, many want it to be longer."

The minister said schools not only provided learning but served as valuable "community resources".

Opening hours

She said: "I am very interested in exploring further the idea that young people should be able to drop into the school building earlier in the morning and later in the evening, using this safe environment and strengthening their connection with the school.

"But I want to be clear that extending the opening hours of schools does not mean that teachers work longer hours.

"However, there are opportunities to think about more flexibility here too."

If flexibility is to mean anything, it must mean that innovation comes from within schools

Cathy Jamieson

And she said there should also be a wider look at who else could work with teachers to support youngsters and help their individual needs.

She rejected the notion of a "one size fits all" policy for comprehensive education and urged schools to use the flexibility and extra funding available to them to make their own decisions on how pupils should be taught.

"If flexibility is to mean anything, it must mean that innovation comes from within schools," said the minister.

"I want the staff in every school in Scotland to be thinking radically, during this debate and beyond, about the ways in which they could better meet the needs of their pupils."

Scottish National Party Education spokesman Mike Russell welcomed the suggestion of flexitime for schools - but insisted that parents should be asked for their views before any final decisions are made.

Conservatives claimed Ms Jamieson's rejection of a "one size fits all" approach for comprehensive education showed the executive moving onto Tory ground.

Tory education spokesman Brian Montheith called on the education minister to take flexibility to "its logical conclusion" by supporting more faith schools, and schools that could select and teach pupils by ability.