Pupils from 37 schools across Somerset, Bath, B&NES and North Somerset have smashed a world record.
To celebrate the 10th birthday of the Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust, more than 70 pupils – two from each school – gathered at St Georges Primary in Weston-super-Mare on 6 July to link 1,899 school jumpers in a spectacular display.
The schools taking part included Batheaston School, Bathampton Primary, Bathford Church School, Bathwick St Mary, St Andrew’s, St Michael’s Junior School, St Saviour’s, St Stephen’s and Swainswick.
A schools trust in Gloucestershire* had set the record of 1,570 in 2019.
The schools gathered jumpers from lost property along with unwanted jumpers offered by parents, all of which were all transported to St Georges for the record attempt.
The children worked together then linked the jumpers and then spelled out BWMAT 10 on the school’s playing field.
Afterwards, some unwanted jumpers were shared locally to schools which need them while others were given to a charity which sends clothes to be used by children in Malawi.
The event was part of a week-long celebration of the Trust, including a teddy bear’s picnic at each school, the recording of a trust song composed by one of the headteachers, Sharon Bowditch, fun STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activities in the schools and a special service in Wells Cathedral. Each school also received a special teddy bear in with its own school jumper!
BWMAT CEO, Nikki Edwards, said, “It was so exciting to bring children from all 37 of our schools together for this fantastic event. Linking the jumpers really symbolises how we see ourselves as a ‘Trust Family’. I was amazed at how everyone worked together and the final result was just spectacular.
“This a special week for our Trust and after 10 great years we are looking to continue to grow and support schools to give the very best education for children across our region, helping them be ‘the best version of themselves’.”
St Georges head teacher, Jo Thorn, added, “It has been a lot of work to put together such a huge event but the smiling faces of the children make it all worthwhile.”