Children from all corners of the UK joined charity National Numeracy and Times Tables Rock Stars for the Rocking and Rolling Numbers live event. Number rolling is a catchy call-and-response chant with accompanying actions designed to get kids feeling positive and confident about maths.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi and Skills Minister Alex Burghart were also on hand to witness the record breaking attempt and congratulated the children.
After the event Mr Zahawi said: “Today has been inspirational. Thank you to the National Numeracy team. It is National Numeracy Day! We have had schools from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England take part today! It is so important that we give everybody – the little ones as well as adults - confidence in numbers and confidence in maths!”
National Numeracy Ambassadors, Strictly Come Dancing star Katya Jones and TV presenter Bobby Seagull led the number roll from King Solomon Academy in London with Times Tables Rock Stars founder Bruno Reddy – as his rock star alter ego Baz Wynter.
Sam Sims, CEO of National Numeracy, the organiser of National Numeracy Day, said: "At National Numeracy, we are very proud to have played a part in setting a new Guinness World Record. The amazing pupils of King Solomon Academy practised, worked hard, believed in themselves and, most importantly, had fun using numbers and maths. This captures the very essence of National Numeracy Day."
Bruno Reddy, Founder and CEO of Maths Circle, the creators of Times Tables Rock Stars said: "We are absolutely thrilled that so many schools and families across the UK joined us Rocking and Rolling numbers live this morning for National Numeracy Day. To see the nation come together and share the joy of maths was a really special moment for us and to win a Guinness World Records title is the icing on the cake. Huge thanks to everyone that took part. We're totally aligned with National Numeracy's mission to prove that everyone can be good at maths and we hope that today's event has inspired number positivity."
Craig Glenday Editor in Chief of Guinness World Records said: "Congratulations to all the kids and schools who rock and rolled their numbers and achieved this phenomenal record for National Numeracy Day. Well done - you were all officially amazing. "
In the UK, 49% of the UK’s working-age population has the expected numeracy levels of a primary school child, significantly below the average for developed countries. National Numeracy Day hopes to help change that. It’s website offers free and fun activities, events and resources for adults and children and a quick way to check and improve numeracy via the National Numeracy Challenge.
