Full Breakdown
Alex Horne’s School Tasking Champion of Champions Brings Taskmaster Fun to Classrooms
6/20/2026, 12:31:59 PM
The Warwick Finale
Hundreds of primary pupils gathered at the University of Warwick to watch classmates compete in spoon-throwing, balancing and bean-bag challenges. The final saw the Smart Ones from Stanhope Street Primary School in Dublin claim the top prize after flying in.
Origins
Taskmaster began as a one-off Edinburgh Fringe show in 2010, created by Alex Horne. The format quickly became a televised hit, with Horne and co-host Greg Davies touring internationally. Though Horne initially imagined occasional school visits, the national School Tasking event—hosted by him for four years—has outgrown those expectations.
Key Figures
- Alex Horne – 47-year-old comedian, Taskmaster creator and host.
- Dr Ali Struthers – Founder of the outreach project linking the competition to law-focused problem solving.
- Emma McDonnell – Teacher, Stanhope Street Primary, Dublin; class won final.
- University of Warwick – Venue and partner.
- Smart Ones – Winning Dublin team.
Data and Reach
The competition has run for four years, drawing “hundreds of pupils” from the UK and Ireland. Winners travel internationally, as the Dublin team did. Organisers plan to expand to Iceland and Australia and add STEM and History tasking disciplines.
Impact
The event uses Taskmaster-style challenges to teach law concepts, teamwork and creative problem solving. Dr Struthers says exposure to university-level thinking can inspire children from less-advantaged backgrounds to consider higher education, while offering a “positive connection” regardless of future study choices.
Official Responses
Dr Struthers called the competition a joyful blend of learning and play that demystifies university pathways. Emma McDonnell praised the pupils’ excitement, calling the experience a “huge deal” and a valuable chance for students from a disadvantaged Dublin area. Horne described the event as “rewarding,” offering hope for the future and showcasing children’s unfiltered honesty in trophy judging.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's such a joy, children are learning through this event but ultimately they're having fun with ducks and thrones,” — Dr Ali Struthers
- “If they choose to go onto university, great. If they don't, at least we know it's something they've thought about, and they've had the chance to build positive connections,” — Dr Ali Struthers
- “We were feeling tired, the pupils were extremely excited and couldn't wait to come and see Alex Horne, just thrilled to be part of the other UK schools,” — Emma McDonnell
- “We judge the trophies the kids have brought in, they have no filters and they just say what they think and it's so refreshing,” — Alex Horne
What’s Next
Organisers intend to launch the competition in Iceland and Australia later this year and to roll out STEM-focused and History-focused tasking modules, further extending the educational reach of the Taskmaster format.
