Gorleston secondary school holds record-breaking PE lesson

An event saw 843 students of Ormiston Venture Academy successfully break the unofficial world record for the largest number of students participating in a PE lesson, adding a further record-breaking accolade to their mantle.

The attempt began with the PE department teaching students how to catch and field.

Following the instructions, the near-850 students took part in two catching and throwing drills, with the principal, Simon Gilbert-Barnham, and head boy Louis, attempting to score as many runs as they could while being surrounded by the world’s largest group of fielders.

Ormiston Venture's principal Simon Gilbert-Barnham (right) and head boy Louis after breaking the world record. Picture - Ormiston Academies Trust (Image: Ormiston Academies Trust)The pair managed to successfully complete six runs before being caught out by a Year 11 student.
 
The academy attempts to break a world record every year, already holding the official world record for the highest number of high-fives with a mascot in three minutes.

The school has also unofficially broken the record for the greatest number of paper aeroplanes in the air at the same time and for the number of times a balloon could be bounced on a cotton bud in 30 seconds.
 
With the academy’s world-breaking track record, another world-record attempt is undoubtedly already on the table for next year.
 
Jack, a Year 7 student at Ormiston Venture Academy said: “It was fun and I really enjoyed it. I can’t believe we broke a World Record on our first day back to school.”
 
Spencer Doggett, director of personal development at Ormiston Venture Academy, said: “It is always good to see our students working as one big team and having fun at the same time. 

"Attempting to beat such a record takes coordination and planning, but the PE department and of course students were terrific.

"We involved 843 students today, so smashed the official World Record that stood at 645.”