Reading towards a world record

Amersham School students joined an attempt to set a new Guinness World Records title for the most people reading online in 12 hours on Thursday 8 October.
At break, lunchtime and after school, students packed into the library to watch online webinars from the National Literacy Trust, featuring popular authors including Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Nathanael Lessore.During each webinar, participants were invited to read for 10 minutes. Students brought their own books and magazines or chose titles from the library shelves. Their concentration was exemplary, with barely a sound as the clock counted down.

By reading alongside thousands of other participants online, students hoped to help secure a new world record.

The attempt formed part of the National Literacy Trust’s ‘Take 10 to Read’ wellbeing campaign. Now in its fifth year, the campaign highlights the wellbeing benefits of reading and encourages people of all ages to spend just 10 minutes reading on and around World Mental Health Day.
Students are eagerly awaiting confirmation of the result, with a space already reserved on the library wall for an official certificate.