Using the format of the hit TV show, Taskmaster, this exciting outreach project enables young people to learn about interesting aspects of the law through fun and interactive tasks set in the style of Taskmaster. We work with Year 5 children from a diverse range of backgrounds, and our projects aim to widen access to university for under-represented pupils. Children from the classes are split into teams of 5-6 to compete against each other and other local schools in a bid to be crowned that year’s School Tasking Champions! During the in-school sessions, classes are introduced to some of the most interesting areas of law and are given a chance to practise key skills, such as teamwork, communication, and lateral thinking. Just as in the TV show, Taskmaster, School Tasking provides the opportunity for all children to shine based on their particular talents and skills.

School Tasking is now entering its second year with a second pilot at Warwick and a new rollout at the University of Edinburgh. From 2023-24, it will run across 15 universities, culminating in a grand final, where regional School Tasking champions will compete to be crowned Champion of Champions!

Here’s what creator and star of Taskmaster, Alex Horne, has to say about the project:

“The work that Ali has been doing with Taskmaster and children has been remarkable. It was never meant to be watched by kids, let alone played, but now there's no stopping them! I've hosted task sessions in schools myself and it's both fun and exhausting. So I'm pleased and relieved that Ali and her co-conspirators are taking on the challenge with so much energy and enthusiasm. Thanks to them, with a bit of luck and a lot of work, our nonsense show might just inspire some young people to have fun, work as a team, and be very, very silly.”

If you’re a Law School or WP primary school that would like to get involved with the project, you can find more information on the School Tasking website, or you can drop us an email at schooltasking@warwick.ac.uk.

Update: The WLS School Tasking programme is growing in popularity and has been featured on the BBC to highlight the positive impact it is having.

Watch the BBC News Midlands InterviewLink opens in a new window

Read the BBC Coventry & Warwickshire ArticleLink opens in a new window