PUPILS from two York schools were today involved in a record-breaking attempt to create the world's biggest lesson.

Girls Education: The Biggest Lesson kicked off at 9am at both Joseph Rowntree School and Clifton Without Junior School, and was aimed at educating relatively-privileged children around the globe about the issues, which make girls more likely to miss out on school in poorer parts of the world.

The event was co-ordinated by Plan International, an organisation which offers the opportunity to sponsor children suffering because of poverty.

Gill Johnson, secretary at Clifton Without Junior, said: "Half-a-million people were registered, so it will definitely raise awareness of the millions of others who do not have the opportunity to go to school.

"It was great fun for the kids too. They were especially excited because of the record attempt."

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, April 09, 2003