Super effort to beat dancing world record at Wem school
Hundreds of schoolchildren and their teachers believe they are now world record holders following a mass performance to a classic pop song from the 1980s.
Nearly 1,000 children gathered at Thomas Adams School, in Wem, on Friday to dance in unison to Black Lace's Superman.
The record attempt involved secondary school pupils from the school and six formers from the adjoining Adams College.
Youngsters from Prees Primary School, Hadnall Primary School, and St Peter's Primary School in Wem also took part in the attempt.
Organiser and Thomas Adams teacher Spencer Radford said: "We wanted to do something achievable and fun.
"The existing record stands at around 880 people dancing to the record but we had nearly a thousand.
"All the footage has been sent to Guinness, so now we just have to wait for the outcome.
"But I think we've done it.
"It has to be ratified but we had definitely had more than 900 people dancing, which was brilliant."
Pupils had been rehearsing the dance's moves, such as pretending to ski, swim and to hitch a ride, in PE lessons.
But first pupils had to be introduced to the record, which peaked at ninth in the British pop charts in 1983. We had to explain what it was and show them a video. The younger ones loved it, the older ones were a bit Hmmm," Mr Radford added.
Head teacher Liz Dakin, sporting a Bananarama-style bandana, took part in the dancing too.
She said: "The music brought back some dubious memories from the '80s, but it was excellent fun.
"There's been an awful lot of work.
"It was great to see so many taking part, from primary school, through the school and including students from Adams College – plus the staff of course."
To be accepted by Guinness World Records the event had to overseen by an adjudicator as well an impartial observer and expert in the field.
Pastor Phil Wright of Wem Baptist Church acted as the observer.
Alisha-Jayne Mackey from the Alisha-Jayne Dance Academy in Whitchurch the expert.
