Beau Soleil University Challenge: Celebrating Five Editions of Academic Competition | Beau Soleil

Beau Soleil University Challenge: Celebrating Five Editions of Academic Competition

By Paula Kesteloot, Faculty Leader World Languages

How it all Started 

I launched the Beau Soleil University Challenge in 2021 because I wanted to bring an exciting and intellectually engaging quiz competition to our school community. Inspired by the British television programme many of us grew up watching, I hoped to recreate an academic environment where students could showcase their knowledge, critical thinking and bilingual skills.

My initial plan was to host a live stage event in assembly. However, with six boarding houses and many enthusiastic participants, I quickly realised that organising a traditional stage format would be impractical.

Taking It to the Next Level

In 2022, the event changed significantly when Mr MacRae, our Faculty Lead for Design and a passionate fan of the original University Challenge, offered to help me transform the event. His support allowed us to shift from a simple assembly to a polished school broadcast streamed live from the SPV to classrooms across campus.

This format elevated the University Challenge into one of our most anticipated academic competitions at Beau Soleil, promoting teamwork, bilingual excellence and a real sense of house pride.

Questions, Languages and Challenge

The questions come from two sources. Teachers submit challenges from their subject areas, while I like to contribute what I call general knowledge questions, the sort of curious facts and ideas that spark wider intellectual interest.

In keeping with the bilingual heritage of Beau Soleil, the competition is fully bilingual. Answers may be given in English, French or both, and teams must stay alert in both languages.

Last Monday’s event was one of the closest to date, with just half a point separating first and second place.

The Podium Results

The University Challenge also plays an important role in our house competitions, with students earning points for their houses through their performance. It encourages teamwork, mutual support, and friendly academic rivalry.

3rd Place:

Emilie and BS Boys, both finishing with 37.5 points

2nd Place:

La Renardière with 44.5 points

1st Place:

DC with 45 points
 

Tutor Group Cluster Results

One of the most exciting aspects of this event is how it brings the entire campus together. While the house teams compete live in the SPV, tutor groups join via livestream and complete their own answer booklets simultaneously. Classrooms become lively, collaborative spaces, and staff join in too, trying their hand at the questions.

Here are this year’s results from the wider campus competition:

3rd Place

Dr Blanchet’s G9s and Ms Martin’s G12s from Ferrier with 39 points

2nd Place

Mr Rogers’ G11s and the G10 tutor groups with Mr Wood and Mr Musical Davies with 39.5 points

1st Place

Mr Taylor’s G8s and Mr Lamprell’s G12s with an impressive 42 points

 

Each year, I am impressed by how confidently students approach the broad range of questions. Their performance reflects not only what they have learned, but also their curiosity, critical thinking and engagement with the wider world.

For me, this event reinforces the values that guide education at Beau Soleil: academic excellence, bilingual education and the development of confident, intellectually curious young people.

I would like to congratulate every student who took part this year and send a special well done to our house and tutor group winners.

I am also grateful to Mr MacRae and our talented student film team, Michael, Eva, Joslyn, Max and Arina. Their technical expertise and commitment are central to turning this school wide academic competition into a professional and highly enjoyable broadcast.

As our graduates move on to leading universities around the world, many continue their academic journey in the United Kingdom, with 40 percent of our Class of 2025 applying to British universities. With such strong representation among UK institutions, it is exciting to imagine that one day a Beau Soleil graduate may have the opportunity to compete on the real University Challenge stage.