Earlier this week a group of four quick-thinking boys emerged victorious in the final round of the Schools Challenge Plate Final making them the school’s inaugural winners in the intermediate category of the national general knowledge competition.
The boys, Remove Former Seth Baines (Captain) and Fourth Formers Oliver Barbour, Matthew Moretto and Hamish Timmins, initially lost in the first round, back in November, to King’s School Worcester A, but entered the Plate competition winning matches against Norwich and King’s School Worcester B, before beating both A and B teams from Nottingham High School in the Final.
The boys were faced with questions on topics ranging from Robert Peel to James Bond, and from etymology to the UEFA Euros. Their triumph showcases not only their knowledge but also their teamwork and ability to think and act quickly.
Oliver Barbour explained, “University Challenge is an iconic British TV programme, so it is very exciting to be part of the schools’ version. I attend the General Knowledge Society every week to help get the hang of the format, practice a variety of different questions and work with the other team members to find out everyone’s strengths. I like how I learn something new every time. Also, it can be very satisfying to get a particularly tricky question right with a niche bit of knowledge.”
Miss Emily Bassaly, Teacher of Classics, who led the boys through the competitions commented, “This is the first year that Schools Challenge has been running a competition for the intermediate age bracket (Years 9 and 10). The boys have done amazingly well over the past six months and thoroughly deserve to win the plate.”
