The Bedford School General Knowledge team made their way to The Hall School, London on Saturday 4 May to compete against seven other schools in the Schools’ Challenge National Finals 2024 and ended up being placed sixth in the country – a superb achievement for what was their first time competing at such a level.
The Schools’ Challenge Quiz is the general knowledge competition for schools across the country, a competition that began nearly 50 years ago. Divided into Senior, Intermediate and Junior competitions, Schools’ Challenge uses a format based on the popular television quiz programme University Challenge. The questions are set in rounds, beginning with a starter followed by three bonus questions, normally with a common theme. Over 130 teams started the competition, which began in the autumn term.
The Bedford School team, which comprised of Fifth Former Sam McMurran (captain) and Lower Sixth Formers Finn Adams, Fred Dickson and Millan Verwoert, were one of eight teams who made it through three rounds of online matches, and were delighted to finally be doing some in-person quizzing, having previously won against teams from Bolton School, King’s School Rochester, and Lancaster Royal Grammar School.
Unfortunately, the boys lost their first match of the day against the reigning champions from The Perse School, but carried on undeterred to the Shield Semi-Final, where they beat City of London School. They ended their day with a loss in a, incredibly competitive and closely fought match against King Edward’s Grammar School, Chelmsford. However, it was fantastic to see them make it to one of the two ‘finals’ matches on the day.
The overall winner of the challenge was Westminster School, who just pipped Hampton School to the post.
Miss Emily Bassaly, Teacher of Classics, commented, “The boys had a brilliant day, and showed themselves to be both full of knowledge and speedy on the buzzers, particularly impressing the question masters with their knowledge of apple pie!”
