Schoolchildren from Manchester are gearing up to break an unusual world record – for the most people singing and using sign language at the same time.
- The event, called Sign2Sing, will be held to raise awareness of deafness.
More than 400 pupils from Cravenwood Community Primary School in Crumpsall, Manchester, will take part in the world record attempt on 8 February.
The 400 pupils from Cravenwood Primary School will join thousands of children from schools and young people’s groups from around the country, as they attempt to sign and sing at the same time.
The children were inspired to take part in the world record attempt after learning British Sign Language as part of their regular school lessons.
The children, aged three to 11, have been learning basic signs in relation to what is being taught in their lessons, to help them improve communication skills.
‘The fun sign language sessions have engaged all the children and we are really looking forward to participating in attempting to break a world record here at the school,’ said Gudrun Heatley, Head Teacher.
‘Sign language helps to improve a child’s communication skills but it also teaches the children about issues such as deafness and disability and raises awareness of the different ways in which people communicate.’
The sign language lessons have been taught by training specialists HearFirst, who promote British Sign Language and deaf awareness.
‘We have been teaching the children some basic signs such as meet and greet signs and have been working with them in Key Stage 2 to teach them how to sign their name,’ said Julie Ryder, Director and Founder of HearFirst.
‘They have all really enjoyed learning the signs and are very excited at participating in attempting, and hopefully breaking, a world record,’ she added.
This year will be the third time that the event, called Sign2Sing, will be held to raise awareness of deafness. It is organised by SignHealth, the national charity for deaf people.
In its first year, 13,418 children signed and sung together, but this record was smashed last year when an incredible 94,489 children took part.
This year the schoolchildren from Cravenwood Community Primary School will be attempting to beat last year’s achievement. But the record can only be broken if all the children taking part manage to sing and sign using British Sign Language simultaneously.