What a team! Last Saturday a team of young history whizzes from Farnham Heath End School travelled to London to compete in an international history contest – and beat all-comers, including a team of older pupils from Eton.
In a stunning display of historical knowledge and buzzer skills, the team from Heath End triumphed over their competitors to win the International History Bowl and Bee competition.
Led by Heath End’s head of history Jonathan Boulton, the FHES team consisted of six students from Years 7 to 9 who competed in both the Bowl and Bee competitions.
The tournament, held at The Trinity School of John Whitgift in Croydon, pitted FHES against some formidable opponents, including the prestigious Eton College, the school of choice for many a UK prime minister.
Despite facing off against mostly Year 10 and 11 students, the FHES team emerged victorious, edging out Eton with a score of 240-230.
This pattern continued throughout the group and knockout stages, culminating in a thrilling final against the hosts, which FHES won convincingly.
But the FHES students weren’t content with just the team victory – they also dominated the individual Bee competition. Three FHES students made it to the final, with Year 7 student Hayden B emerging as the ultimate champion.
What’s more, FHES was the only state school to compete in the event, making its triumph all the more impressive. And the students’ success has earned them a spot in the European finals, set to take place in Barcelona in June.
Mr Boulton said the FHES pupils performed “incredibly” and are now looking forward to competing in Barcelona.
Can you pass the test?
Below is an example of a question put to Farnham Heath End pupils at the International History Bowl and Bee – we’ll reveal the answer in next week’s Herald!
QUESTION: After a task force led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus discovered his location in Bithynia, this general ingested poison according to Livy. Earlier, this brother of Mago won several devastating victories at Lake Trasimene and Cannae before being defeated during a counter-invasion of North Africa. Scipio’s victory at Zama led to, for ten points, which general’s defeat in the Second Punic War?
Founded in 2010, the International History Bowl and Bee competition hosts events in more than 50 countries, including the annual European Championships.
The competition sees pupils answer a multitude of questions on a variety of topics as far ranging as Ancient Greece and the Kingdom of Mali, to the American revolutionary war, Titanic and the Aztecs.