On Tuesday 13th November, Croydon High School attempted to enter the world record books. A science experiment involving over 2,300 girls at 26 schools and academies across the country – 77 of them from Croydon High - set out to measure gravity in a bid to set the record for the world's biggest practical science lesson in multiple venues.

The experiments measured the value of acceleration due to gravity. One measured the time taken for an object to drop a set distance, and the other timed a swinging pendulum*.

Pupils taking part in the experiments across the country ranged in age from ten to 15.

Croydon High student Zara Uddin said: "It is really exciting to think we have taken part in what might be a world record breaking event!"

The school followed strict guidelines set by Guinness World Records (GWR), including video filming of the whole event and the involvement of independent witnesses to count the girls and ensure they were participating fully. Croydon High is very grateful to Laura Good, a Physics teacher from Archbishop Lanfranc School in Croydon and Caroline Woodcock, a Croydon Librarian, who performed these roles admirably.

All the participating students are pupils of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST), the leading group of independent girls' schools in the UK, as part of this year's 140th anniversary celebrations. Head Debbie Leonard said: "In the girls-only environment of the GDST, science subjects in general and physics in particular, are hugely popular. At Croydon High School, all our girls take triple science at GCSE and study the more exacting IGCSE Physics curriculum. The enthusiasm for this subject – and science in general - shows the degree to which we're bucking some of the less encouraging educational trends."

The girls now wait with great anticipation to see if they are indeed Record Breakers!

*The two experiments being conducted during the record-breaking attempt were as follows:

Dropping experiment

Beanbags were dropped a set number of times from a set height (d), and the time (t) of each drop was recorded. The average value of (2 x d) / t2 was then calculated and submitted.

Pendulum experiment

A pendulum of a measured length (L) was swung over a fixed point on the floor. Timing began when the suspended object first passed over the fixed point, and stopped after it had swung ten times over that same point from the same direction. The average time for one swing (T) was then calculated. From the results of the experiment, gravity was calculated using the formula (4 x π2 x L) / T2, and the average value submitted.

The record attempt was being made in accordance with guidelines set by Guinness World Records (GWR). To achieve it, a minimum of 1,000 pupils was needed across at least ten schools, with at least 25 participants at each school. The lesson had to consist of at least two hands-on experiments on a specific area of science, and participating teams had to submit written reports of their results.

Also in accordance with GWR guidelines, the GDST world record attempt was being overseen at each school by two independent witnesses and an independent steward. Each lesson was timed and video-recorded, and photos taken.