Six Bromsgrove students have just returned from the Tournament of Champions, the prestigious global final of the World Scholar’s Cup. Competing against the 300 finalists in the Junior Division (11-15) from around the world, our two teams (Jeana Lee, Thomas Savage and Surabhi Vanalia; Daisy Savage, Devi Vanalia and Joon Ho Byun) enjoyed a life-changing experience.

After a whistle-stop tour of Manhattan, including visits to the Empire State Building and the 9/11 memorial, shopping in Macy’s and catching a sunset glimpse of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park, the teams made their way up to New Haven, Connecticut, and Yale University, where the competition took place.

Whether in the debating or collaborative writing rounds, or amid the rigour of the Scholar’s Challenge exam or the Scholar’s Bowl team quiz, our students distinguished themselves with aplomb. One team – Jeana, Thomas and Surabhi – were placed 6th for debating, and were placed on the Honour Roll overall; and Surabhi featured individually on the Honour Roll in the Science component of the Scholar’s Challenge.

Most impressive of all, Thomas Savage brought home a glittering array of prizes, placing 6th overall for the Scholar’s Challenge (and on the Honour Roll for the Arts, Literature and Science), 1st in the world for debating and an amazing 2nd in the world across the entire competition. In a contest which sees the very best teenage minds on the planet compete against each other, it was fantastic to see a Bromsgrove student come out on top.

Whilst in the USA, our teams also enjoyed tours of Ivy League colleges Yale, Harvard and, recently rated Number 1 in the world, MIT (Machachusetts Institute of Technology). This was a rare opportunity for our world-beating scholars to have a window into some of the institutions in which they may even study themselves in a few years time.

Congratulations to all six students, and a big thank you to all the staff who have helped them along the way, and especially to Mrs Beanland and Mr Savage for coaching them to the top. This year, we have 24 students enrolled on our World Scholar’s Cup programme, so fingers crossed there may be Bromsgrove teams at the Tournament of Champions at Yale next year too.

For more information on the World Scholar’s Cup, visit www.scholarscup.org