Hackney youngsters learn challenges faced by deaf in Guinness world record signing attempt

Over 130,000 pupils at 1,000 schools across the country are believed to have taken part in a world record attempt to beat the most people signing and singing at the same time.

Millfields was one of six primary schools in Hackney which participated in the Sign2Sing challenge last week, organised by SignHealth - the national healthcare charity for deaf people.

Teacher Roz Wilson, who is head of music at Millfields said the children loved learning sign language, and were excited to take part in a Guinness world record breaking event.

“We love to sing at Millfields and we had a joyful afternoon assembly signing and singing their hearts out,” she said.

“The children know that for some people that signing is their only means of communicating and we discussed what it must be like to not have a voice.

“They learned to empathise with others and put themselves in different situations, and develop a sense of the challenges faced by other children and adults,” she added.

SignHealth is waiting for confirmation from Guinness whether the world record has been broken. Their previous world record set last year was 114,277.