Friday 5 December 2008

CHINA FINAL

This was the biggest and best China Final to date. Teams flew in from Beijing, Nanjing, Guangzhou and of course the local schools from Shanghai. Concordia International School of Shanghai kindly billeted all of the children. Eight new teams participated this year. The competition was closer and tougher than ever but the International School of Beijing won both first and third place. What was impressive was that the winning team were all year sixes. Concordia International School of Shanghai was second.
Book prizes were sponsored by Scholastic China and Bayard Presse donated subscriptions to their magazine Discovery Box and Shanghai Book Traders kindly supplied the branded T-shirts. Food for all our hungry readers today was supplied by Subway Shanghai Co.
The whole event was very slickly organised.
A great day
Wayne

Saturday 29 November 2008

UK GRAND FINAL

Today's final of the Serco KLQ was really dramatic. One team arrived 25 minutes late and the quiz had already started and not only that one of their team members had a blood nose for much of the quiz so what a surprise when it was this team that won the UK final! Congratulations on keeping your poise under such pressure. This team was Bancrofts School from the Essex heat. They now will represent The UK at the World Final of the KLQ in Johannesburg. Second place went to Blue Coat School from the Midlands heat and Lancaster Royal Grammar came third after a sudden death play-off with Arnold House. Our guest author, the hugely popular Eva Ibbotson, awarded the KLQ trophies and books to the first two teams and Harry Enfield awarded the third and fourth placed teams with their prizes.
The UK organiser, Eileen Armstrong, was presented with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of all the energy and time she'd put into organising this year's heats and final.
Today's sponsors were Scholastic UK, Puffin Books and Usborne. Their books were well received by today's avid readers.
The School Library Association , who support the KLQ, kindly awarded vouchers to the
teams librarian coaches for the value of  50% of a training session and a 100% voucher to
the coach with Bancrofts School. 
This year's final was the most rigorous ever and all of the teams deserved to win.
Thank you to all my colleagues and friends for their assistance on the day.
Wayne

Monday 24 November 2008

NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Hi Folks
Well what a fun-filled wonderful night to end the UK regional heats held at Gosforth Central Middle School. A massive 36 teams entered (this was the same as Cornwall) and the hall was busting at the edges with tables and chairs as well as as good number of knowledgeable spectators. We appreciated the Borders' booksellers pitching in to help us mark.
The winning team for the first time ever was Durham Johnston followed by Ripon. Again a sudden death was required to separate third position. Durham High School ended up pipping Highfield Middle School in a nail-biter.
Many thanks to Puffin, Scholastic UK and Usborne for supplying prizes.
Great finish.
Wayne

Friday 21 November 2008

EAST SCOTLAND

Today's five authors were heralded into the Stewart's Melville College Hall by two pipers and they then played a reel before the heat got under way. This was a grand start and the scores reflected it too. Many teams scored nines or tens.Sara Grady the Children and Education Programme Director for the Edinburgh Book Festival awarded the top three prizes. First was George Watson's College, second was Mary Erskine School and The George Watson 2 team was third. A grand result for George Watson. Each team received book prizes care of Macmillan Books.The authors were: Theresa Breslin, James Jauncey, Gill Arbuthnott, Jonathan Meres and Mike Nicholson.Thanks everyone for a very enjoyable afternoon.
Wayne

Thursday 20 November 2008

WEST SCOTLAND

Hi Everyone,

Great turn-out today at the Kilsyth Academy.  Banners were proudly flying, gold and black balloons hovered,  and an atmosphere of anticipation pervaded the hall.  Two guest teams participated - one of librarians -  and the other local authors.   (Theresa Breslin, Katie Grant and Linda Strachan).  The librarians' team won the event but the top school was Dunblane High School followed by the High School of Glasgow.  Third place was decided by a sudden death question.  Douglas Adademy won it and this placed  Bannerman  High forth.  The prizes donated by Scotia Books were awarded to the teams by guest authors

Happy reading

Wayne

Tuesday 18 November 2008

NORTH WEST ENGLAND

Hi Bloggers
The Kids' Lit Quiz had the honour tonight of being the first official event held in the new Social Learning Centre at Bolton University as it had only been opened three weeks ago by Prince Edward.
Lots of teams selected their jokers wisely and tonight's scores reflected their decisions. The winning team had never entered the quiz before but ended up winning quite convincingly. Lancaster Royal Grammar was an all-boys team and their win was well-deserved. Queen Katherine was second followed by Christelton High School.
Book prizes donated by Hachette were given to the winning teams by local author Philip Caveney.
Great results across the board-well done everyone.
Wayne

NORTHERN IRELAND

Teams came from every corner of Northern Ireland last night to participate in the Kids' Lit Quiz. Seven new schools entered for the first time. The BBC came for an interview but ended up being absobed by the atmosphere and stayed for the whole quiz. The teams were buzzing and the category winners enjoyed a selection of titles supplied by Scholastic UK.
Sullivan Upper School defended their title and will now travel to the UK Final in Newcastle. Second place went to Strathearn Grammar and Wellington College Belfast was third. The prizes were awarded by guest author Dan Freedman.
Many thank to Wellington College for hosting the event.
Happy reading.
Wayne

Saturday 15 November 2008

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND

Hi Everyone
What an exuberant afternoon in Cornwall and what amazing book knowledge everyone had. This has been the biggest heat to date. Wadebridge School hosted us again and the tables for the teams occupied the whole hall. The audience sat on the stage. High scoring rounds were common today and congratulations must go to defending champions and last year's UK winners Truro School for again winning the SW heat. South Molten was second and Exmouth was third.
Thank you to all those teams who travelled from so far to take part.
Happy Reading
Wayne
Quizmaster

Friday 14 November 2008

SOUTH WALES

Hi Everyone
All the contestants were welcomed today by last year's Welsh Champions (and third in the World Final) the team from Whitchurch School. They told the teams to read avidly and encouraged them to do well.
This year the venue moved to the Bishop of Llandaff School hall and the venue worked very well. A good number of parents, grandparents and librarians/teachers watched the heat and were impressed by the students' literary knowledge.
An all-boys team from Whitchurch School won the heat, Howell's School was second and Monmouth Boys' third.
Book prizes were donated by Harper Collins.
Thanks to the senior students from Bishop of Llandaff for their assistance.
Wayne

Wednesday 12 November 2008

SOUTHERN ENGLAND

Hi Everyone
Another accomplished result was posted by our authors' team in Havant today. The team of five consisting of Andrew Norriss, James Riordan, Craig Simpson, Andy Briggs and Ali Sparks once again proved too good for the KLQ teams in this southern heat.
The prizes were spread widely and many kids walked away with books to get signed from the book shop or else gained a book from the category round.
Robert Mays' Odiham School won both first and third place which was quite an achievement. Portsmouth High School was second. The difference between first and third was 1.5 marks. So a very tight squeeze today for the top positions.
Great results
Wayne

OXFORD

Hi Folks
Fast and busy evening last night in front of over 200 spectators who witnessed extraordinary talent on display. Some kids were even attempting questions before they were asked! The winning school was Oxford High followed half a point behind by The Cherwell School. St Helens was third. 
The authors' team with superior numbers bettered Oxford High but look at the literary power of these people: Meg Harper, Linda Newbery, Dennis Hamley, Mark Robson, MG Harris, Rachael Wing and Susie Day.
I was delighted to see so many local politicians supporting the event-that was certainly appreciated.
We tried a new venue this year at Our Lady's school as this gave the audience better views from tiered seating. The school went out of their way to ensure that all teams felt very welcomed.
Many thanks to OUP for supplying the book prizes.
Can't wait until the next heat.
Happy reading
Wayne

Monday 10 November 2008

CENTRAL ENGLAND

Hi Everyone
In a lovely old hall at Oundle School the Oundle and King's Cliffe Middle School won today's heat of the Serco Kids' Lit Quiz, second was King's School Peterborough and third was Oakham School. All great results but three cheers ought to go to the authors' team as they won with a massive score. The team of Julia Jarman, Mary Hoffman, Mark Robson, Lucy Coats and Pippa Goodheart scored a remarkable 99/100. Lots of teams went away with prizes and some even with Anthony Horowitz T-shirts.
It was a lovely heat as all questions were answered by at least one team.
I look forward to seeing you at a heat soon
Happy reading
Wayne

YORK HEAT

The Scissett Middle School orchestra played a welcoming medley of tunes as schools entered the North Light Gallery for the quiz, and so the stage was set for this year's heat of the Serco KLQ.
John Mc Coomb, local artist and storyteller awarded prizes to North Halifax Grammar School for coming first, followed by Woodleigh School.
The traditional Kids' Lit Quiz chocolate cake has been a great favourite and all the teams enjoyed a scrumptious piece again this year.  the book prizes were generously given by Chicken House.

Happy Reading

Wayne

Friday 7 November 2008

MIDLANDS HEAT

There's no doubting that evening heats of the Serco Kids' Lit Quiz really rock. The venue was packed with teams and over 200+ spectators filled the sides of the room. There was a feeling of literary expectation and the final result confirmed just how close all the teams were bunched together.
Mark Robson attended and gave away copies of his books to lucky kids able to answer his questions. All the other team prizes were generously donated by Macmillan Publishers.
The team from Scholastic UK competed well for the first five rounds but then faded after the break. The top team though was Blue Coat followed by the two teams from Finham Park School.
Fun festive night.
Happy Reading
Wayne

Wednesday 5 November 2008

NORFOLK HEAT

Hi Everyone
A lovely afternoon today where reading was positively affirmed by all teams and spectators. Winning teams were spread and all teams experienced a measure of success in the ten categories. Swavesey Village College 1 defended their title from last year which was a great achievement given the stiff competition. Wymondham College was second and Thetford Grammar 2 was third.
Many thanks to Wymondham High School for hosting the KLQ and to student, William, for his technical assistance.
Keep Reading
Wayne

Tuesday 4 November 2008

ESSEX HEAT

Hi Everyone
Very happy and enjoyable afternoon today in Ockendon during the second heat of the UK Kids' Lit Quiz. All teams quickly sorted out their joker round and we got right into the quiz. It was won very convincingly by Bancrofts School and their second team was also placed second. This now means that the school will head to Newcastle for the UK Final on Nov 28th. Well done.
Our guest author, Michael Coleman, assisted with the marking and a comprehensive display of his books was displayed for readers to pursue.
Happy Reading
Wayne

LONDON HEAT

Hello Everyone

It's great to be back in Britain again and to start the next session of the 2009 Kids' Lit Quizzes in London. Last night's heat was won by the authors' team (Dianne Hofmeyr, Amanda Lees, Sally Nicholls and Beth Webb) and boy did they enjoy winning!. However they cannot be the team to go through to the Newcastle national final of course. That honour went to Bishop's Stortford College A team-congratulations. The two teams from Arnold House were second and third this was pretty good too. Mark Robson had a busy time on the scoreboard and the markers were well known authors like Echo Freer, Gareth Mottram and Pauline Francis.
Alan Jeffreys provided the book shop.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for the book prizes and to Broxbourne School for use of their facilities and hall.
Next heat is in Essex
Wayne

Friday 31 October 2008

THE KIDS' LIT QUIZ 2008 - DATES OF REGIONAL HEATS

Wayne Mills arrives in the UK this week-end and starts his whistle-stop tour in London on November 3rd.

November 3    -  London
November 4    -  Essex
November 5    -  E England
November 6    -  Midlands
November 7    -  York
November 10  -  Bucks
November 11  -  Oxford
November 12  -  S England 
November 13  -  S Wales
November 14  -  SW England
November 17  -  N Ireland
November 18  -  NW England
November 19  -  W Scotland
November 21  -  E Scotland
November 24  -  NE England
November 28  -  National final - The Seven Stories Newcastle 

Wayne will add to the blog after each heat and welcomes your comments.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE